Volume XXXVII of the Lenin Collection contains 507 previously unpublished documents by V. I. Lenin, of which 35 relate to the pre-Soviet period and 472 to the Soviet period.

The collection opens with Lenin's letter to the Moscow Committee of the RSDLP dated January 31, 1905. In this letter, he exposes the schismatic, disorganizing activities of the Mensheviks during the course of the beginning revolution in Russia, their attempts to discredit the Bolshevik committees, which had unfolded extensive revolutionary work. Lenin proposes that the Moscow Committee report on what forces it has at its disposal, whether there are workers in the committee, how the work is organized, and he requests that they send leaflets issued by the committee and detailed information about the course of revolutionary events in Moscow.

Materials relating to the Cracow Conference of the Central Committee with party workers (1913) are of great interest; in them are outlined the main points of the reports with which Lenin spoke at the conference. They are particularly important because the texts of the reports themselves have not yet been found. In the materials relating to the Brussels Conference (1914), Lenin exposes the opportunism of the leaders of the II International, who convened the conference ostensibly for an "exchange of opinions" on the question of unity in the RSDLP, but in reality—for supporting the Mensheviks in their struggle against the Bolshevik party. The materials show what enormous work Lenin conducted in preparing the Bolshevik delegation for the conference. He compiled a detailed plan and theses of the Central Committee's report, with which, at Lenin's behest, I. F. Armand spoke at the conference. Materials relating to the conference at Kienthal (1916) are of considerable interest, as are Lenin's letters from the period of the First World War, characterizing his attitude toward the Bukharin-Pyatakov group.

The documents of the Soviet period—these are V. I. Lenin's speeches and addresses, the draft resolutions and decrees written by him, decisions of the Central Committee of the party, the Council of People's Commissars, and the Council of Labor and Defense, letters, notes, telegrams addressed to various institutions, organizations and individuals, rough drafts, notes and annotations. They reflect the multifaceted activities of V. I. Lenin in creating the Soviet state and defending its achievements, in directing socialist construction, in the struggle against famine and devastation in the country. The materials in the collection contain Lenin's directives concerning the restoration of industry and transport, the development of mineral resources, the protection of socialist property, the strictest accounting of gold expenditure, and directives on the electrification of the country.

Many documents in the collection are devoted to the party as the guiding and directing force of Soviet society. They reflect Lenin's struggle for the consolidation and purity of its ranks, for strengthening ties with the masses. In the speech "Non-Party Members and Soviet Power," delivered on April 25, 1921, he speaks of the necessity of more widely involving workers and peasants in the matter of governing the country and restoring the national economy. For Soviet Power, he pointed out, honest and devoted non-party workers are necessary; it is the direct duty of party and Soviet organizations to find and promote such people, entrust them with work, and give them the opportunity to unfold and show themselves in practice.

The published documents reflect the Leninist style of work, his consistent implementation of the principle of collective leadership, his demanding nature, his operational efficiency, and his verification of fulfillment. A number of documents show Lenin's struggle against bureaucratism and red tape in the work of the state apparatus, for the strengthening of revolutionary legality. They testify to how attentively and swiftly Lenin responded to the complaints and statements of the working people that came to him, and demanded the adoption of decisive measures against unlawful actions and abuses.

The collection includes "Speech at the 5th Extraordinary Congress of the Moscow District Soviet of Workers' and Peasants' Deputies" of May 17, 1919. In it Lenin gives a brief characterization of the external and internal situation of the country, and clarifies the decisions of the VIII Congress of the RCP(b) on the question of relations with the middle peasantry. He points out that "only through an alliance of laboring peasants and workers is it possible to defend the conquests of the social revolution" (p. 150).

The documents in the collection make it possible to reveal more deeply and fully Lenin's role in the defense of the country, in the destruction of the forces of foreign and internal counterrevolution: "We are extremely concerned about the sluggish movement of troops from the front to Kharkov. Take all measures, up to the most revolutionary ones, for the most energetic movement of troops, and at that in large quantities to Kharkov." This directive of Lenin was transmitted on December 11 (24), 1917 by direct wire to N. V. Kryienko. In July 1918 Lenin gives a directive to the extraordinary military commissar of the Volga region and the Urals V. L. Panyushkin to "move more quickly to the Eastern Front." To the Revolutionary Military Council of the Western Front, to I. V. Stalin, he proposes to accelerate the sending of reinforcements to the defenders of Petrograd.

The collection prints Lenin's speech on military questions at the VIII Congress of the party, delivered on March 21, 1919. In this speech he subjected the "military opposition" to criticism, emphasized the necessity of further strengthening the armed forces of the Soviet state, the establishment of firm discipline, the utilization of the achievements of military science, the knowledge and experience of the old military specialists.

Among the documents of the Soviet period are numerous telegrams reflecting V. I. Lenin's concern for ensuring food supplies for Petrograd, Moscow and other cities, for supplying workers, scholars, writers, teachers, and students.

A letter by V. I. Lenin to the Central Statistical Administration of June 6, 1921 is of great importance. In it Lenin criticizes the Central Statistical Administration for publishing general-type collections, bulletins and the like, for the absence of close ties with provincial economic councils and the Council of Labor and Defense. The primary task of the Statistical Administration, Lenin points out, should be serving the practical needs of socialist construction; he outlines an approximate list of the most important questions with which the Central Statistical Administration should be occupied.

The collection publishes documents reflecting Lenin's activities in the sphere of international communist and labor movements, connected with the preparation and conduct of the I, II and III Congresses of the Comintern. Among them are: a rough draft and preliminary version of the plan for the report on the international situation and the basic tasks of the Comintern at the II Congress of the Comintern, notes for his speech at this congress on the conditions for admission to the Communist International, Lenin's speeches at a session of the German delegation of the III Congress of the Comintern with members of the Central Committee of the RCP(b).

These materials characterize the firm implementation by the party, by Lenin, of the principle of proletarian internationalism, the struggle for genuine unity of the world labor movement, the necessity of correcting errors. "The Party must observe discipline and must not be afraid of uncovering its deficiencies. It is dangerous if we are silent about our deficiencies"... "We have a genuine International, which corrects our errors" (p. 304). Characterizing the Communist International, Lenin wrote that it was now "not a propagandistic society, but the beginning of a practical movement of the armies of the working class" (p. 224).

Lenin subjects the II International to sharp criticism, characterizing the opportunism of its leaders as bourgeois socialism.

Questions of foreign policy occupy a large place in the materials included in Volume XXXVII of the Lenin Collection, relations with various countries, the development of trade between the Soviet Republic and capitalist states, negotiations concerning concessions. Among them are several interviews with correspondents of bourgeois newspapers.

In an interview with a Swedish correspondent of the newspaper "Folkets Dagblad Politiken," the discussion concerns the situation in Russia and Finland (1918). Characterizing the situation in the country, Lenin expresses firm confidence in victory over the forces of counterrevolution; the majority of the people, he said, support the revolution. In an interview with Louise Bryant on October 13, 1920, Lenin speaks about the profitability for the United States of America of having trade and other ties with Soviet Russia. With American capitalists in mind, Lenin said: "Whether they like it or not. Soviet Russia is a great power. After three years of blockade, counterrevolution, armed intervention and the Polish war, Soviet Russia is stronger than ever before. America will gain nothing from Wilson's policy of pious refusal to deal with us on the grounds that our government is not to their taste" (p. 254).

In a record of a conversation with Lenin, made by the British communist, one of the founders of the Communist Party of Great Britain William Paul in October [1920], the discussion concerns the tactics of English communists at the forthcoming elections to parliament. Lenin advised English communists to use the elections for purposes of agitation, to expose the bankruptcy of the bourgeois parliamentary system.

Emphasizing the significance of Marxist theory, Lenin said to Paul: "The purpose of our theoretical views is to guide us in our revolutionary activity. The best place for testing our theoretical views is the field of fighting activity. The genuine test for a communist is his understanding of how, where and when to transform his Marxism into action" (p. 249).

In a conversation with the Norwegian archivist Friis "On the Tactics of Communists," Lenin touched on a number of questions connected with the problems raised in the book "The Infantile Disorder of 'Leftism' in Communism," on the necessity of struggle on two fronts—against right-opportunistic and left-sectarian errors, among which he considered anti-parliamentary tactics. "Anti-parliamentarism," Lenin said, "is one of the infantile disorders of communism" (p. 212); at the same time he sharply criticized reformism and right opportunism.

For the first time are being published: personal and membership cards of a member of the Moscow organization of the RCP, filled out by Lenin in connection with the introduction of a single party membership card, which was carried out in accordance with the decision of the IX Congress of the party.

A large number of documents are accompanying materials to Lenin's documents of the Soviet period. Notes, orders, and directives were often written by V. I. Lenin on telegrams, requests, and statements that he received. Such materials are given in small type together with the text of Lenin's documents.

Each new Lenin Collection, including new, previously unpublished documents by Lenin, is a most precious contribution to the treasury of Marxist-Leninist thought. The materials of Volume XXXVII of the Lenin Collection, serving as a direct supplement to the classical works of V. I. Lenin, are a new weapon in the struggle for building communism in the USSR, for democracy and national liberation, for a firm peace, democracy and socialism, for the triumph of the ideas of Marxism-Leninism.

* * *

The materials included in Volume XXXVII of the Lenin Collection are arranged, as a rule, in chronological order. In documents dated by V. I. Lenin or his secretaries, the arrangement and form of the dates are preserved according to the original. Documents written in Russia before February 14, 1918 are dated in double style; documents written abroad are given according to the new style; dates of documents established by the editors are given in square brackets.

The headings of the documents belong to the editorial staff.

The overwhelming majority of the documents are printed from manuscripts; other sources are noted at the end of the documents.

Notes and biographical information are given following the text of the document.

Text underlined by V. I. Lenin in the manuscript with one line is reproduced in italics, two lines—in italics with spacing, three lines—in bold, four lines—in bold with spacing.

Words inserted, as an exception, in the text by the editorial staff in those cases where this is necessary for sense are given in square brackets in regular type.

Text crossed out by the author in the manuscript is reproduced in small type in square brackets.

At the end of the collection are printed an index of names and a subject index.

The collection was prepared for publication by research workers of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism under the Central Committee of the CPSU: K. F. Bogdanova, M. M. Vasser, D. L. Kudryachina, A. A. Panfilova, E. F. Polkovnikova, R. M. Savitskaya, R. Z. Yunitskaya. M. A. Zotov and P. G. Sevryugina participated in the preparation of individual documents. Editors: G. N. Golikov, G. D. Obichkin, M. Ya. Pankratova, A. A. Solovyev.

Under the general editorship of Academician P. N. Fedoseyev.

Institute of Marxism-Leninism under the Central Committee of the CPSU

1905—MAY 1917

LETTER TO THE MOSCOW COMMITTEE OF THE RSDLP

[January 31, 1905]

Under the influence of news from Petersburg, we tried to arrange a joint rally with the minority, hoping that at such a moment there would be no wrangling. And what happened? The Mensheviks violated all conditions in the most brazen manner, knowing that the Bolsheviks would not make a scandal. Now the Mensheviks are exploiting events in every way to their advantage. In the name of the Council they collect money, which they send to Russia to send Mensheviks and the like, they advertise themselves in every way before European social-democracy and play on the conciliatory mood of the public, which cannot conceive that at such an important moment the Central Committee would distinguish between the minority and the majority.

Today issue No. 84 of "Iskra" came out. There are such gems in it: "But, let us say at once, what a lesson both for the utopians of 'conspiratorial' organization, who considered it possible in the name of habit of obedience, in the name of formally-organizational 'discipline,' with the mechanical lever of 'agency' to move a million-strong army of the working class at their discretion! Let them try to apply this naively Arakcheevian measure to the grandiose movement that is unfolding before our eyes!" and so forth, vulgar insinuations. To the reader's attention is powerfully recommended Martyno's new pamphlet "Two Dictatorships."

In Petersburg, during the events, there was a temporary agreement between the committee and the "group at the Central Committee." The committee demonstrated the most intensive activity: it issued masses of leaflets, sent speakers, organized the collection of money and distribution of aid to strikers, under the committee's leadership strikers began to arm themselves, build barricades, etc., and yet "Iskra" does not mention the Petersburg Committee with a word, but instead advertises in every way the "St. Petersburg Group at the Central Committee," claiming that activity in Petersburg began to revive with the appearance of this group. In foreign newspapers too this disorganizing group is being advertised.

In Odessa, where the Bolsheviks allowed all willing persons to work, the Mensheviks, using committee connections, conducted their disorganizing work and passed a resolution sharply censuring "Forward." From Odessa they write that there is a split. Now, judging by "Iskra," the Mensheviks are aiming at Nizhny and Moscow.

What is happening with you? Are there forces in the committee? Are there workers in the committee? How is the work organized? Is there equipment? Did the Central Committee propose to implement the plan of "Iskra" with regard to liberals? How did the committee respond to this plan? On whose point of view on this question does it stand—Lenin's or "Iskra's"?

Please send all the leaflets that have come out recently, and most importantly, report details about January 12 and the following days. How does the committee regard "Forward"? Inform us immediately upon receipt of this letter.

Printed according to the text written in the hand of N. K. Krupskaya

1 In connection with the publication of the newspaper "Forward" and the preparation of the III Congress of the party, in early 1905 V. I. Lenin took energetic measures to expand the ties of Bolshevik party centers with local organizations of the RSDLP in Russia. In January 1905 correspondence with the Moscow Committee of the RSDLP resumed, which had been broken off in the autumn of 1904 because of the exposure of the Moscow Committee.

"Forward" – an illegal Bolshevik weekly newspaper; published in Geneva from December 22, 1904 (January 4, 1905) to May 5 (18), 1905.

2 The Party Council is meant, the highest body of the RSDLP, created in accordance with the Party Charter after the II Congress under the chairmanship of G. V. Plekhanov from an equal number of representatives of the Central Committee and the editorial board of the Central Organ. As a result of the Mensheviks' seizure of the editorship of "Iskra" (November 1903), the Party Council became in fact their instrument in the struggle against the Bolsheviks. It existed until the III Congress of the RSDLP (April 1905).

3 V. I. Lenin cites an excerpt from the leading article of the Menshevik "Iskra" No. 84 of January 18 (31), 1905, "The Beginning of the Revolution," written by F. I. Dan.

4 A. Martyno (A. S. Piker) – one of the leaders of the "Economists," a prominent Menshevik.

5 The reference is to the "Letter to Party Organizations" published by the editorial board of the Menshevik "Iskra" in November 1904. The letter contained a plan for the workers' party to support the constitutional movement of liberal zemstvo leaders. The critique of this opportunistic plan is the subject of V. I. Lenin's pamphlet "The Zemstvo Campaign and the Plan of 'Iskra'" (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 9, pp. 75–98). The Menshevik-conciliatory Central Committee of the RSDLP agreed with the plan of the editorial board of "Iskra."

6 In the intra-party struggle that unfolded after the II Congress of the RSDLP, the Moscow Committee, together with the majority of other local organizations of the party in Russia, took Leninist positions.

7 As a protest against the bloody events of January 9, 1905 in Petersburg, at the call of the Bolsheviks, a strike of Moscow workers began on January 10. On January 14 the strike reached its highest level: about 52,000 workers at 140 enterprises in Moscow were striking.

In view of the "circumstances of wartime and the anxious mood of students and the public," the Moscow authorities forbade the celebration of the jubilee of Moscow University, whose 150th anniversary fell on January 12, 1905. Despite the prohibition, a mass gathering (up to 600 people) took place in the "Hermitage" restaurant, revolutionary speeches were delivered and money was collected for the benefit of the injured Petersburg workers and Moscow strikers.

f. 2, inv. 3, No. 806

LETTER TO G. A. ALEKSINSKY

November 7 [O.S.], 1908

Dear Peter!

So you have after all got in touch personally yourself, and Mr. M. turned out to be excluded. Quod erat demonstrandum.

I congratulate you cordially.

Send me the address of the Jew and tell him firmly that you are a representative of "Proletarian," not (some newspaper or other?) and that a man will be arriving from us soon specially for this business. It is necessary that our emissary should meet with complete trust from the Jew, as far as possible bypassing all intermediaries. In Vienna I very much request that you collect new Polish literature or find out its addresses in Cracow. We need an official report on the X Congress of the PPS (Left), which recently made important decisions. Get this report without fail.

Greetings! Your V. Ulyanov

P.S. We will be asking from the editorial...

Printed according to the text of the facsimile published September 10, 1922 in the French newspaper "Excelsior."

1 A facsimile of this letter was published on September 10, 1922 in France in the newspaper "Excelsior."

G. A. Aleksinsky – a social-democrat. In years of reaction – a Recallist, one of the organizers of the anti-party group "Forward."

2 Apparently here V. I. Lenin means the Menshevik V. E. Mandelberg. See also V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 47, p. 132.

3 Who is referred to has not been established.

4 "Proletarian" – a Bolshevik illegal newspaper. Published from August 21 (September 3), 1906 to November 28 (December 11), 1909 under the editorship of V. I. Lenin.

5 PPS – Polish Socialist Party (Polska Partia Socjalistyczna) – a reformist nationalist party, founded in 1892. In 1906 the PPS split into the PPS-"Left" and the rightist, chauvinist, so-called "PPS-Revolutionary Faction."

The PPS-"Left," under the influence of the Bolshevik party and also under the influence of the SDKPiL (Social-Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania), gradually moved to consistently revolutionary positions, and in December 1918 united with the SDKPiL. The united parties formed the Communist Workers' Party of Poland (so it was called until 1925, the Communist Party of Poland).

The X (I) Congress of the PPS-"Left" took place in December 1907–January 1908. The Congress adopted a new program which testified that the PPS-"Left" was becoming a genuinely revolutionary, class party, firmly standing on the ground of the Russian-Polish revolutionary alliance.

NOTES FOR MEMORY

[Beginning of 1911]

1) It is necessary to write to Vlasov about Rozhkov: include him in all institutions (ZBCK, editorial board of the Central Organ, etc.) as a candidate. The same for Plato.

2) It is necessary to send a paper to the Central Committee against the ZBCK (transportation of "Voice," disruption of the plenum, etc.).

1 Whether a letter was written is not established.

Vlasov – a pseudonym for A. I. Rykov, a member of the party since 1899. In the period of reaction held a conciliatory position toward the Liquidators, Recallists and Trotskyists.

N. A. Rozhkov – a historian and publicist. In early 1905 he joined the RSDLP, for some time gravitated toward the Bolsheviks. After the defeat of the 1905–1907 revolution, he became one of the intellectual leaders of Liquidationism.

2 ZBCK – Foreign Bureau of the Central Committee – was established by a plenum of the Central Committee of the RSDLP in August 1908 as an all-party representation abroad, subordinate to the Russian Bureau of the Central Committee. Later, in the ZBCK there developed a stable Liquidationist majority, which in every way attempted to disorganize the work of the central party institutions.

3 Reference is made to "Social-Democrat" – the Central Organ of the RSDLP – an illegal newspaper; published from February 1908 to January 1917. The editorial board of "Social-Democrat" was composed in accordance with the decision of the Central Committee of the RSDLP, elected at the V (London) Congress, of representatives of the Bolsheviks, Mensheviks and Polish social-democrats. In fact, the leading figure of the newspaper was V. I. Lenin.

4 Who is referred to has not been established.

5 Reference is made, apparently, to a letter to the Central Committee written after February 4, 1911 (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 20, pp. 105–107).

6 Reference is made to the newspaper "Voice of the Social-Democrat" – the foreign organ of the Mensheviks; published from February 1908 to December 1911. From the first issue of "Voice of the Social-Democrat," it stood in defense of the Liquidators, justifying their anti-party activities. After G. V. Plekhanov withdrew from the editorial board, condemning the Liquidationist position of the newspaper, "Voice of the Social-Democrat" finally defined itself as the intellectual center of the Liquidators.

7 V. I. Lenin means the systematic disruption of the convening of a Central Committee plenum, which the Bolsheviks persistently demanded in connection with the Liquidators' non-fulfillment of the decisions of the January plenum of the Central Committee of 1910.

REMARKS ON V. V. ADORATSKY'S ARTICLE
"ON NEOLIBERALISM. REGARDING THE BOOK
BY P. NOVGORODTSEV 'THE CRISIS OF CONTEMPORARY
LEGAL CONSCIOUSNESS'"

[1911, no later than April]

The article, in my opinion, needs to be reworked in the following direction:

1) It is necessary to present to the reader more precisely and concretely what the matter is about, what Novgorodtsev is discussing. (One cannot assume this is known).

2) It is necessary to criticize Novgorodtsev more thoroughly and in detail – contemporary liberalism – the theory of popular sovereignty (i.e., its revolutionary significance in history; the hollowing out of this significance by professors; the reactionary character of renouncing it now).

3) Drastically curtail the general theoretical section on Marxism and materialism versus idealism.

4) Work over it literarily (the article is in places downright rough drafts, sketches, notes).

5) Consider the dimensions. The individual parts of the article are extremely disproportionate. Not quite an article, not quite a book.

For "Thought" a maximum of 2 articles of 10–12 printed pages each.

For a book – it is necessary to explain all the other sections just as thoroughly as historical materialism.

1 V. V. Adoratsky's article on Novgorodtsev's book, published in 1909, was intended for the journal "Thought," but was not published in it.

"Thought" – a Bolshevik legal monthly philosophical and socio-economic journal; published in Moscow from December 1910 to April 1911; a total of 5 issues appeared.

V. V. Adoratsky – a member of the party since 1904, a prominent propagandist of Marxism.

P. I. Novgorodtsev – an idealist philosopher, a Cadet, a jurist by training. From 1896 to 1913 he taught lectures on the history of the philosophy of law at Moscow University.

NOTE TO AN UNIDENTIFIED ADDRESSEE

16/1 1912

Dear Comrade,

You know comrade Kobetsky well. We have sent him several letters and have received no reply. We do not know whether he has fallen ill or departed. We would be very grateful if you would write us what has happened to him.

With socialist greeting, N. Lenin

Our address:
Mr. Ulyanov
4, rue Marie Rose
Paris, XIV

Printed according to the text written in the hand of N. K. Krupskaya

TRANSLATION

16/1 1912

Dear Comrade,

You know comrade Kobetsky well. We have sent him many letters, but we have not received a reply. We do not know, perhaps he is ill or has departed. We would be very grateful to you if you would write us what is happening to him.

Our address:
Mr. Ulyanov
4, Marie Rose Street
Paris, XIV

With socialist greeting, N. Lenin

1 M. V. Kobetsky – a member of the RSDLP since 1903, a Bolshevik. He actively participated in the work of party organizations in Petersburg, Baku, Kursk, and Ekaterinoslav. He was repeatedly arrested and imprisoned.

LETTER TO YA. S. GANETSKY

[September 4, 1912]

Dear Comrade! I cannot give the letter to the Bureau (which was sent off on Saturday) until the secretary of the International Socialist Bureau distributes it.

My address: Ulica Lubomirskiego. 47. I. Left.

Today in the "Bremer Bürger-Zeitung" there is an article "The Radek Case"—a good one in his defense and with non-recognition of "Trishkin's court."

With Party greetings

Your Lenin

1 Ya. S. Ganetsky – a prominent figure in the Polish and Russian revolutionary movements, a member of the social-democratic party since 1896, a member of the Main Board of the SDKPiL. In connection with disagreements on a number of intra-party questions, he withdrew from the Main Board and after the split in Polish social-democracy in 1912 was one of the leaders of the so-called "rozlamovaya" opposition, which was closest to the Bolsheviks.

2 Reference is made to the letter to the Secretariat of the International Socialist Bureau of August 31, 1912 on the question of the split in the Social-Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania (SDKPiL) – the revolutionary party of the Polish working class (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 22, pp. 45–46). V. I. Lenin dwells on the history and causes of this split in the article "The Split in Polish Social-Democracy" (ibid., pp. 288–292).

The International Socialist Bureau (ISB) – a permanent executive-information body of the II International. Secretary of the ISB – Camille Huysmans.

3 On September 4, 1912, in the "Bremer Bürger-Zeitung" (Bremen Citizens' Newspaper – a daily social-democratic newspaper) two articles were published: "Zum Fall Radek..." ("On the Radek Case...") and "Der Fall Radek und 'Die Nachrichten'" ("The Radek Case and 'The News'"). They discuss the exclusion of K. Radek from the SDKPiL (Social-Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania) by decision of an arbitration court organized by the party's Main Board. Radek disputed the legality of this decision and agreed to an investigation of the case by German social-democracy.

In early September 1913 in Paris, at the initiative of the Bureau of Foreign Sections of the Social-Democracy of Poland and Lithuania (the "rozlamovtsy"), a commission was created to review the court's decision. The commission concluded that there were no grounds for bringing Radek before the party court and excluding him from the party, and proposed to continue considering Radek a member of the SDKPiL and RSDLP.

See also V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 48, pp. 92–93.

K. B. Radek – from the beginning of the 1900s he participated in the social-democratic movement in Galicia, Poland and Germany; participated in the publications of German left social-democrats.

MATERIALS FOR THE CRACOW CONFERENCE
OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RSDLP
WITH PARTY WORKERS

[January 1913, between 8 and 14]

I

1) Revolutionary strike movement and the tasks of the party.
2) Building of an illegal organization and legal work.
3) The Duma fraction and "Pravda."
4) Insurance campaign.
5) Attitude toward the August conference and Liquidationism [and the question of unification].
6) The national question in the party.

Three themes of the report

I. Political strikes in 1912. Scale and significance. Revolutionary upsurge. // New revolution. Strikes versus peasantry.

II. Lockouts versus strikes. Measures of struggle.

III. Attitude in social-democratic circles and in the workers' press to the revolutionary strikes of 1912.

Liquidators at the Bund Conference

"Our Dawn," etc.

August conference of diplomats

"Ray" V. A. in No. 56 of "Ray"
Fyodor Dan in Nos. 66–73
No. 69

No. 77 against the Petersburg Committee

"Long-term work ahead" (p. [unspecified], § [unspecified] of the resolution 1.12). There is no party.

"The beginning of the movement of the masses" (p. 18, § 3, ibid.).

9 months—700 thousand
(Moscow center—188
"explanation"

December approximately 30 [approximately]
approximately 968

Compare "Neva Star" No. 14

—1842 thousand

—

"

—

"

—

"

—

"

—

"

—

"

—

"

1912 – approximately 1000 thousand

Political strikes

Participants

1 The published materials were prepared by V. I. Lenin for the conference of the Central Committee of the RSDLP with party workers and were apparently used by him in the reports "Revolutionary Upsurge, Strikes and the Tasks of the Party," "On Attitude toward Liquidationism and on Unity," which he delivered at the conference (the texts of the reports have not been preserved). The "Notice" of the Central Committee of the RSDLP on the conference and resolutions – see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 22, pp. 249–270.

The Conference of the Central Committee of the RSDLP with party workers, called "February" for reasons of secrecy, took place in Cracow from December 26, 1912 – January 1, 1913 (January 8–14, 1913).

2 This apparently is the preliminary agenda of the Cracow Conference.

3 "Pravda" – a daily legal Bolshevik newspaper; the first issue appeared in Petersburg on April 22 (May 5), 1912.

"Pravda" was subject to constant police persecution. On July 8 (21), 1914, the newspaper was closed. The publication of "Pravda" resumed only after the February bourgeois-democratic revolution of 1917. From March 5 (18), 1917, "Pravda" became the organ of the Central and Petersburg Committees of the RSDLP.

4 Reference is made to the 9th conference of the Bund, which took place in Vienna in June 1912.

5 "Our Dawn" – a monthly legal journal of the Menshevik-Liquidators; published in 1910–1914 in Petersburg. Around "Our Dawn" there developed a center of Liquidators in Russia.

6 Reference is made to a conference of Liquidators that took place in Vienna in August 1912; at it was formed the anti-party August Bloc, organized by L. D. Trotsky.

7 In No. 56 of the Menshevik newspaper "Ray" of November 21 (December 4), 1912, signed "V. A.," an article "What is Wrong with Us?" was published. In the other issues mentioned by V. I. Lenin, "Tactical Notes" signed "F. D." were published. In these articles the authors attacked the Bolshevik tactics of organizing mass revolutionary strikes of workers, calling it "playing at strikes." Lenin's analysis and criticism of these statements by the Liquidators is given in the articles: "The Sickness of Reformism," "The Development of Revolutionary Strike and Street Demonstrations," and in the initial postscript to the latter article (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 22, pp. 218–220, 281–287, 396).

"V. A." – V. M. Abrosimov, a secret agent of the secret police. During the years of reaction and the new revolutionary upsurge, he acted as an active Liquidator. In 1912 he participated in the anti-party August conference.

"F. D." – F. I. Dan (Gurvich) – one of the leaders of the Mensheviks. During the years of reaction and new revolutionary upsurge, he headed a group of Liquidators abroad.

8 In issue 77 of the newspaper "Ray" of December 16 (29), 1912, a leading article "Regarding Workers' Requests" was published. The newspaper condemned the Bolshevik Petersburg Committee of the RSDLP for organizing a strike in support of a request on workers' insurance submitted by the social-democratic fraction of the IV State Duma.

9 Points 1 and 3 of the resolution "On the Present Moment and the Tasks of the Party," adopted by the Sixth (Prague) All-Russian Conference of the RSDLP in January 1912 are cited. The draft was written by V. I. Lenin (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 21, pp. 125–127); the final text of the resolution see "CPSU in Resolutions and Decisions of Congresses, Conferences and Plenums of the Central Committee," part I, 1954, p. 273.

10 The numerical data cited here and below were used by V. I. Lenin in the article "The Development of the Revolutionary Strike and Street Demonstrations" (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 22, pp. 281–287).

11 In the Bolshevik legal newspaper "Neva Star" No. 14, June 24 (July 7), 1912, data were provided on the number of participants in political strikes in Russia in 1905–1911.

REMARKS AND ADDITIONS
TO I. F. ARMAND'S "NOTE"

[1913, no earlier than August]

Page 1 – first phrase

Develop Snowden's point of view from the point of view of opportunism.

Beginning of the upsurge (revolutionary) of English workers. Opportunists behind the liberals – they hold things back.

Page 1. (before the second phrase)

Add an assessment of Larkin more thoroughly (from the words of K. Hardie himself one could restore approximately Larkin not by quotation, but by characterization).

And then. Even K. Hardie rose up (although softly)...

Page 3. before the end: more thoroughly on syndicalism and opportunism, as mutually complementary stupidities and bourgeois deviations.

Conclusion: The "Note" needs to be made into an article with a beginning and an end, with a narrative about the business (for Russian workers), with hands and feet, with a conclusion.

1 Which note by I. F. Armand is referred to could not be established.

I. F. Armand – a member of the Bolshevik party since 1904, a professional revolutionary, an activist in the international women's labor and communist movements. During the period of the world imperialist war, she was a participant in the International Women's Socialist Conference (1915), the International Youth Conference (1915), the Zimmerwald and Kienthal Conferences of internationalists.

I. F. Armand lived in Cracow from August 1913 to January 1914, where V. I. Lenin and N. K. Krupskaya lived at that time.

2 Philip Snowden – chairman of the Independent Labour Party of England, representative of its right, opportunistic wing, a bitter opponent of communism.

3 A powerful revolutionary upsurge of the labor movement in England began in 1911 with the railway workers' strike and continued until the beginning of the First World War. The opportunists, frightened by the large scale of this movement, tried in every way to hold it back. Snowden, for example, declared that strikes "demoralize" workers.

4 James Larkin – an activist in the Irish labor movement, one of the leaders of the trade unions. Organizer of the Irish union of transport workers and laborers. Under Larkin's leadership this union conducted a strike of port workers in 1911 and a general Dublin strike in 1913. For leading the Dublin strike, Larkin was arrested and sentenced to 7 months in prison.

5 James Keir Hardie – an activist in the English labor movement, a reformist, leader of the Independent Labour Party. One of the founders of the Labour Party. He belonged to the right wing of the II International. During the general Dublin strike of 1913, he spoke, although timidly, against the repression of the English government against strike participants.

NOTE TO AN UNIDENTIFIED ADDRESSEE

[Between December 14 and 26, 1913]

This draft for the Foreign Committee and foreign groups.

Take as a model. Develop the campaign. After copying, return immediately.

What about the Central Organ? If it is delayed for long, telegraph, then we will insert something about the ISB.

DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR THE FOREIGN COMMITTEE
AND FOREIGN GROUPS

Draft

Having familiarized ourselves with the resolution of the ISB regarding Russian affairs... we have resolved to greet the decision of the Bureau. The complete clarification of the serious differences that exist in the Russian labor movement, which the Bureau has placed on the first agenda, is in our view the most important and absolutely necessary prerequisite for further steps. We have therefore resolved to do everything possible to assist our comrades in familiarizing themselves with the existing situation in Russia.

On the other hand, we cannot remain silent about the unfamiliarity of foreign comrades with the affairs of the RSDLP, which was displayed during the discussion of this question at the Bureau. We would not fulfill our direct obligation as members of the RSDLP if we left without protest the statement made at the Bureau session by the representative of German social-democracy Kautsky to the effect that "the party does not exist." Considering this statement to be the result of insufficient or one-sided familiarity of this comrade with the Russian labor movement, we believe it to be our obligation to point out that the familiarization, obligatory for every socialist speaking on Russian affairs, with the fundamental facts of the movement (elections, composition of parliamentary representation, party press, decisions of party institutions, the course of strike movements, etc.) would lead comrade Kautsky to recognize that our party, which has survived an epoch of counterrevolutionary terror, is the directing force of the entire labor movement in Russia, in all its various manifestations.

We express the hope that the steps being undertaken by the Bureau to familiarize [the world] with the situation in Russia will not only clarify the actual relationship between the RSDLP and the groups that have split from it, but will also make impossible in the future statements by responsible figures of international social-democracy similar to those made by comrade Kautsky.

1 The document is written on a draft resolution for the Foreign Committee and Foreign Groups. The draft was written in the hand of L. B. Kamenev.

2 FCO – Foreign Committee of Organizations, elected at a meeting of foreign groups of the RSDLP that took place in Paris in December 1911. During the war years, the FCO, which was located in Switzerland and worked under the direct leadership of V. I. Lenin, conducted extensive work coordinating the activities of foreign sections of the RSDLP, waged struggle against social-chauvinists, for the consolidation of left internationalists of international social-democracy.

3 Reference is made to the Central Organ of the RSDLP, the illegal newspaper "Social-Democrat," which was published from February 1908 to January 1917.

LETTER TO THE PROVINCIAL BOARD OF THE SDKPiL

To the Zarzad Krajowy S.D.K.P. i L.

Dear Comrades!

As we have already informed comrade Ganetsky in personal negotiations, we will place your statement in the discussion supplement to the Central Organ, which will come out no later than the next issue of the Central Organ as a separate insert in this issue of the Central Organ.

On behalf of the editorial board of the Central Organ of the Russian SDLP "Social-Democrat," N. Lenin

Cracow, April 29, 1914.

1 SDKPiL – Social-Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania – the revolutionary party of the Polish working class; arose in 1893 first as the Social-Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland, and after fusion with a part of Lithuanian social-democrats in August 1900 became known as the SDKPiL. At the IV (Unification) Congress of the RSDLP in 1906, the SDKPiL was accepted into the composition of the RSDLP as a territorial organization.

After the defeat of the 1905–1907 revolution in the SDKPiL, disagreements appeared, which in 1912 led Polish social-democracy to a split. The supporters of the Main Board of the SDKPiL took an opportunistic position, supported anti-Bolshevik trends; the supporters of the Provincial Board of the SDKPiL acted in contact with the Bolsheviks and supported the line of the Central Committee of the RSDLP.

The published document was written in response to the following letter:

"To the editorial board of 'Social-Democrat.' Dear Comrades! We request that you place in the next issue of 'Social-Democrat' the attached 'Statement.' With party greeting.

On behalf of the Provincial Board of the SDKPiL
Ganetsky, 3.IV.14."

In the "Statement" of the Provincial Board of the SDKPiL there was discussion of a resolution on the national question adopted at the Poronin ("Summer") Conference of the Central Committee of the RSDLP with party workers in the autumn of 1913. The Provincial Board, citing the fact that delegates of the SDKPiL who participated in the Conference with a consultative vote spoke against the resolution, disputed the Leninist position on the right of nations to self-determination up to and including separation. The Provincial Board of the SDKPiL incorrectly believed that the implementation of the slogan of the right of nations to self-determination, i.e., to separation and the formation of an independent state, would lead, as it were, to the fragmentation of the forces of the proletariat.

In connection with the fact that publication of "Social-Democrat" was temporarily discontinued and the next, 33rd, issue came out only on November 1, 1914, already during the world imperialist war, the "Statement" was not published.

MATERIALS FOR THE REPORT OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RSDLP
AT THE BRUSSELS CONFERENCE

[Between June 8 and 13, 1914]

[The text is incomplete in this section]

# VARIANT OF THE OPENING OF THE REPORT

Two fundamental conceptions, two fundamental viewpoints, which
we have already indicated in the report of the ISB to its December session
of 1913. The first viewpoint: in Russia there exists an illegal Social-Democratic
party in the form of cells [and] groups of Social-Democratic workers, and these
cells are surrounded by a network (more or less dense in different cities) of
legal workers' societies. This party unites the overwhelming majority of conscious
workers in Russia. The legal newspaper of this fully organized party is *Pravda*,
[while] the illegal organization is represented by the conference and meetings
of 1.1912, II.1913 and summer [1913].^1

2. Against this workers' party struggle, disorganizing the workers' movement,
bourgeois-intelligentsia groups, which objectively are the liquidators and small
groups desiring to assist them. Only the cessation of the separate existence of these
groups and their subordination to the majority of conscious workers can help the
cause of unity. The other viewpoint: in Russian Social-Democracy there reigns
disintegration and chaos of factional struggle—a whole heap of factions and small
groups, of which the worst factionalism [is that of the] "Leninists." One can help
the cause only through agreement or compromise among all tendencies, all factions.

---

Page of manuscript [containing] a variant of the plan and theses of the report of the CC RSDRP to the Brussels Conference.
June 1914.

1905 — MAY 1917

[NUMERICAL DATA OMITTED]

---

# VARIANT OF THE CONCLUDING SECTION OF THE REPORT ("CONDITIONS")

On the basis of the objective data set forth above and the experience of 2½ years
of open and direct separate existence, — we, the CC RSDRP, are convinced that the
group of liquidators is an intelligentsia group which does not submit to discipline
and organization and has proven its incapacity to create a party and work in a
party-like manner, to unite workers into a party.

We know that all the remaining groups, tendencies, factions, etc., do not share
our opinion. All that we can do in such a situation is to propose to them to refute
us, to show us our error through experience. Let them create from all the groups
which in print have defended compromise (or even unity) with the liquidators
(Trotsky, Bund, Plekhanov,^4 *Vperyod*,^5 etc.), — a common commission (as they
wish, with decisive or consultative voice) and let it publish over the course of six
months its assessment of all party questions. Then the workers of Russia will see
whether it is we who are mistaken in denying the possibility of work with the
liquidators.

---

# PLAN AND THESES OF THE REPORT OF THE CC RSDRP
Report of the CC | Theoretical and practical [questions]
| (A)) The Essence of Disagreements (Liquidationism)
| | (B)) Our Experience | Objective Data. 2½ years
| | (C)) Their Experience | Disintegration in general and disintegration of the August bloc in particular.
| (D)) Conclusions: Conditions.

On the basis of [workers' resolutions]

1. Thanks to Vandervelde...
2. "Points litigieux"*...
[Theme]
3. Liquidationism | Expulsion from the party of the group of liquidators
4. 20-year history.
5. The essence now
6. Resolutions | Resolutions of 1908
7. Continuation of the liquidationist line in *Nasha Zaria* and *Nasha Rabochaya Gazeta*.^6
8. Unity with the liquidationist group is possible only on the conditions of its complete renunciation of liquidationism.
9. The CC can undertake to propose to the party congress the repeal of the resolution on the liquidators only on such conditions.
[Question of] "Legitimacy" of the January (1912) Conference?
| (1) no CC owing to the fault of (a) M. R. Y.*
| the liquidators.
| (2) (b) ZB TsK**
| (2) >54% of committees convened (Party Statute on CC).
| (3) >54 represented.
| (4) all invited.
| (5) Kiev Committee (beginning) not a majority and control.
| (6) Majority of workers acknowledged [it].

[Question of] "Legitimacy" of publication of organs by separate groups.
Party Statute § 3.
NB: Decline the role of arbiters***

* — "Disputed points"...
** — more.
*** Decline the role of arbiters.

1905 — MAY 1917

Conditions:
1. Attitude toward the underground and condemn-
| [Resolutions of] 1908 and 1910
nation of liquidationism. | (including [the program]) (Sedov^8)
2. On statements in legal press against the repub- | ... (reformism)...
lic and confiscation
3. National question. Down with Yagello!^9 | [Resolution of] 1908
4. | | Union from below, by places, [regarding the] Bund.
| | Resolution of 1906. Unification Congresses.
5. Cultural-national autonomy — down with it. (1903)
6. Immediate, unconditional and unequivocal recognition of our
majority, loyal submission to the majority, recognition of its
methods of organization and unification.
7. Closure of competing organs: Creation of discussion organs
of *Nasha Rabochaya Gazeta* (86% and 14%) and "Insurance".*^10
8. Decisive rejection of all blocs with left-Populists (in literature
and in the workers' movement) against Social-Democrats. Confirmation
of the resolution on the bourgeois character of left-Populists | *Zhivaya Mysl Truda* No. 3^11
9. Dissolution of foreign small groups and their submission to the
foreign organization, through it to the Central Committee. Closure of
"fractional" newspapers and journals. | (a) Gorsky and disruption
of illegal demonstration^12.
| (b) Strikes of revolutionary character.
| (c) Leaflets "Advertising illegal press."
| (d) Attitude toward revolutionary demonstrations.
| (e) "For an open party"...
| [Unity from below]
| (February Revolution, p. 20^13)
For otherwise — disorganization of all cells, party, insurance, professional.

---

The Brussels "Unification" Conference took place on July 16-18, 1914. It was convened by the Executive Committee of the International Socialist Bureau, in accordance with the decision of the December 1913 session of the ISB, "for the exchange of opinions" on the question of the possibility of restoring unity in the RSDRP. But long before the conference, the leaders of the International had secretly agreed with the liquidators on joint actions against the Bolsheviks. V. I. Lenin and the Bolsheviks understood the true aims pursued by the organizers of the conference, yet considered it expedient to participate in it, since a refusal would not have been understood by the workers in Russia. The CC RSDRP sent its delegation to the conference, which included I. F. Armand (Petrova), M. F. Vladimirsky (Kamsky), and I. F. Popov (Pavlov). Lenin carefully prepared the CC delegation for the conference: he wrote a report and detailed instructions for it (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 25, pp. 361-405), provided it with necessary materials, documents, and factual data exposing the opportunism of the Menshevik-liquidators and their allies. Being in Poronin, Lenin daily directed the CC delegation, which maintained the closest ties with him, gave it practical directives and advice. I. F. Armand presented the CC RSDRP report at the conference. The leaders of the ISB did not permit her to read the text of the entire report, so Armand was forced to present only part of it and to characterize the conditions of unity put forward by the Bolsheviks. One variant of the plan and theses of the report of the CC RSDRP to the Brussels Conference was printed in Complete Collected Works, vol. 25, pp. 448-449.

^2 [These refer to:] The Sixth (Prague) All-Russian Conference of the RSDRP, which took place January 5-17 (18-30), 1912; the meeting of the CC RSDRP with party workers, called for reasons of conspiracy the "February" meeting, which took place in Krakow on December 8-14, 1912/January 1-7, 1913 (December 21-27, 1912/January 3-9, 1913, new style), and the meeting of the CC RSDRP with party workers (for reasons of conspiracy called the "summer" meeting), which took place September 23 — October 1 (October 6-14) 1913 in the village of Poronin (near Krakow).

^3 The numerical data published here were written by V. I. Lenin on the upper part of the sheet with the variant of the report. They represent, apparently, a calculation of collections for the Bolshevik *Pravda* and for the liquidationist newspaper *Luch* and the *Nasha Rabochaya Gazeta* that appeared after it.

^4 L. D. Trotsky — member of the RSDRP since 1897, a Menshevik. During the years of reaction and the new revolutionary upsurge, concealing himself under "non-factionalism," he actually stood on the positions of the liquidators. In 1912 he was the organizer of the anti-party August bloc. During the period of the world imperialist war he occupied a centrist position.

The Bund ("General Jewish Workers' Union in Lithuania, Poland and Russia") united chiefly semi-proletarian elements of Jewish artisans in the western regions of Russia. Within the RSDRP the Bundists constantly supported the opportunist wing of the party ("Economists," Mensheviks, liquidators), waged struggle against the Bolsheviks and Bolshevism.

G. V. Plekhanov — an outstanding figure in the Russian and international workers' movement, the first propagandist of Marxism in Russia; after the II Congress of the RSDRP he joined the Mensheviks. During the years of the world imperialist war he stood on the positions of social-chauvinism.

^5 This refers to the group *Vperyod* — an anti-party group of recallists, ultimatists, and God-builders; organized on the initiative of A. Bogdanov and G. A. Aleksinsky in December 1909, after the collapse of the factionalist center of recallists and ultimatists — the school on Capri; it had a printed organ of the same name.

^6 *Nasha Rabochaya Gazeta* — a daily newspaper of the Menshevik-liquidators, published in Petersburg from May 3 (16), 1914.

^7 "M. R. Y.," apparently, Mikhail, Roman, Yury (I. A. Isuv, K. M. Ermolaev, P. A. Bronshtein) — Menshevik-liquidators. Having been elected to the composition of the Central Committee from the Mensheviks, they refused to participate in its work. See more on this V. I. Lenin's article "The 'Voice' of Liquidators Against the Party" (Complete Collected Works, vol. 19, pp. 202-210).

^8 L. Sedov — pseudonym of B. A. Ginzburg; a Social-Democrat; in the years of reaction and the new revolutionary upsurge he stood on the positions of liquidationism.

^9 E. I. Yagello — a figure in the Polish workers' movement, member of the PPS-"Left." In 1912, during elections to the Fourth State Duma, he was put forward as a candidate by a bloc of the PPS-"Left" and the Bund, and, despite protests from Polish Social-Democrats, was elected.

^10 This refers to the journal of Menshevik-liquidators *Strakhovanie Rabochikh* [Workers' Insurance]; published in Petersburg in 1912-1918.

^11 *Zhivaya Mysl Truda* — one of the names of the left-Populist (Socialist-Revolutionary) legal newspaper *Zhivaya Mysl* [Living Thought], published in Petersburg from August 1913 to July 1914; the newspaper changed its name several times. In *Zhivaya Mysl Truda* No. 3, June 15, 1914, there appeared an article "On the Election of Representatives to the Sick Fund at the Aivaz Factory." For an evaluation of this article, see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 25, pp. 253-254.

^12 This refers to an article by the Menshevik-liquidator A. V. Gorsky (A. E. Dubois), printed in the liquidationist *Severnaya Rabochaya Gazeta* No. 51, April 11 (24), 1914.

^13 This refers to point 7 of the resolution "On Attitude toward Liquidationism and on Unity," adopted at the meeting of the CC RSDRP with party workers on December 26, 1912/January 1, 1913 (January 8-14, 1913) (see "CPSU in Resolutions and Decisions of Congresses, Conferences and Plenums of the CC," 1954, pt. I, p. 298).

---

# LETTER TO K. B. RADEK

[November, not before the 13th, 1914]

Dear Comrade!

At last I have managed to find the issue of *Sentinelle* with a brief summary of our manifesto.^1 Please return it after use.

Can one print such a thing in German? This question should clarify the conditions of your (i.e., your journal's^2) legality.

Best regards!
Yours, Lenin

^1 *La Sentinelle* (*The Sentinel*) — newspaper, organ of the Swiss Social-Democratic organization of the canton of Neuchâtel (French-speaking Switzerland); founded in 1890. During the years of the first world war the newspaper occupied an internationalist position. On November 13, 1914, No. 265 of the newspaper published in abbreviated form the manifesto of the CC RSDRP "War and Russian Social-Democracy."

^2 This refers to the monthly journal *Lichtstrahlen* (*Rays of Light*) — organ of the group of left Social-Democrats of Germany ("International Socialists of Germany"). The journal was published irregularly from 1913 to 1921 in Berlin.

---

# LETTER TO V. L. BOGROVA

28/X [1914]

Dear Friend! I was very pleased to receive news from you. How is it that you are ill so frequently? With whose permission? And how will serious musical scholarship proceed if you conduct yourself so poorly? I hope you have recovered thoroughly—soon you will develop a passion for travel—we shall meet somewhere and I shall be able to hear you sing.

Regarding the CO^2 I have passed [the message along]. (Concerning typeface and typography, don't bother—it's not necessary now).

And yet you will arrange a concert sometime for the benefit of the revolution—surely, isn't that so?^^

Best regards! Yours, V. U.

^1 V. L. Bogrova — in 1905 a member of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' Deputies; persecuted by the tsarist government for participation in the revolutionary movement. In 1905 Bogrova emigrated abroad; there she studied at the medical faculty; completed the conservatory in the singing class in Florence (Italy). See also the present collection, pp. 69, 75, 76, 84.

^2 V. I. Lenin is referring to the Central Organ of the RSDRP, the illegal newspaper *Sotsial-Demokrat*, [which] was published from February 1908 to January 1917.

^^On the postcard V. I. Lenin wrote: "Signora Bogroff. 21. Via Leopardi. 21. Milano, Italien"; before the text of the letter — his own address: "Uljanow. Distelweg. 11. Bern".

---

# RECOMMENDATION FOR B. D. VIGILYEV

Bern, March 14, 1915.

Hereby I confirm that Boris Vigilyev has long been a member of the Russian Social-Democratic Workers' Party and is personally known to me as an emigrant persecuted by Tsarism.

By order of the Central Committee of the Russian Social-Democratic Workers' Party N. Lenin (Wl. Ulyanov)

Wl. Ulyanov. Distelweg. 11. Bern

TRANSLATION

Bern, March 14, 1915.

Hereby I confirm that Boris Vigilyev has long been a member of the Russian Social-Democratic Workers' Party and is personally known to me as an emigrant persecuted by Tsarism.

By order of the Central Committee of the Russian Social-Democratic Workers' Party N. Lenin (Wl. Ulyanov)

Wl. Ulyanov. Distelweg. 11. Bern

^1 B. D. Vigilyev — participated in the revolutionary movement from 1902. From 1909 lived in Zakopane (Galicia). Was an active figure in the Krakow association for aid to political prisoners.

---

# LETTER TO G. L. SHKLOVSKY

[June 21, 1915]

Dear Friends! Three weeks have passed. I repeat the invitation to both young ladies to visit us and walk in the mountains. Take Panasha, if he studies well, and anyone else possible. Travel to the station Schupfheim (the Bern—Lucerne line via Langnau). Price = 3 francs 20 centimes one way. From there by coach: postal [service] 1 franc 60 from Schupfheim (8 km) to Fluhli and from Fluhli to Sorenberg (2 francs). The last stretch (10 km) can be walked—the road is excellent, a mountain road, along the telegraph line. Postal [service] once a day from Flühli to Sorenberg, namely at 9 o'clock from Schupfheim. If you depart at 2:05 PM from Bern, then at 4 o'clock you can leave Schupfheim (from there, from the restaurant opposite the station, you can and should telephone us at Hotel Marienthal, either about sending a horse from there, or so that I come out on foot to meet you). Here there are many mountains, both small and large (Rothorn 2351 m. — if the young ladies want to climb it, let them bring permission from Papa and Mama, otherwise I shall be afraid to lead far into the mountains — it is high, they may get tired). There are flowers, etc.

As soon as the weather improves, we request your presence!! (The last few days the weather has been poor, rain and thunderstorms).

Best regards to all! Yours, V. Ulyanov

Printed according to a photocopy of the manuscript

^1 G. L. Shklovsky — member of the RSDRP since 1898. From 1909 a political emigrant, lived in Switzerland, was a member of the Bern section of the Bolsheviks; from 1915 a member of the Committee of Foreign Organizations of the Bolsheviks (KZO). Returned to Russia after the February bourgeois-democratic revolution of 1917.

On the postcard V. I. Lenin wrote: "Herr Schklowsky. Falkenweg. 9. Bern"; before the text of the letter — his own address: "Ulyanov (Hotel Marienthal) in Sorenberg (Canton Lucerne)".

---

# NOTE TO G. E. ZINOVIEV

[1915, July, before the 26th]

Dear Grigory! Regarding the themes for the CO.^2 I thought I had written to you. I agree: on my part, I have written:

1) On the Situation in Social-Democracy (No. [of] *Izvestiya* and *Nashe Delo* + Kautsky^3)

2) On Defeat.*

Yours, Lenin

^1 G. E. Zinoviev (Radomyslsky) — member of the RSDRP from 1901. From 1908 to April 1917 was in emigration, was a member of the editorial boards of the newspaper *Proletariy* and the CO of the party — *Sotsial-Demokrat*, was a member of the CC. During the years of reaction and the new revolutionary upsurge he took a conciliationist attitude toward the liquidators, recallists, and Trotskyists. During the period of preparation and implementation of the October Socialist Revolution he was against armed insurrection.

^2 This refers to the preparation of the forthcoming, 43rd issue of the newspaper *Sotsial-Demokrat*.

^3 Karl Kautsky — one of the leaders of German Social-Democracy and the II International, initially a Marxist, later a renegade from Marxism, the ideologist of the most dangerous and harmful variety of opportunism — centrism (Kautskyanism).

^4 V. I. Lenin is referring to his articles "On the Situation in Russian Social-Democracy" and "On Defeat of One's Own Government in the Imperialist War." Both articles were published in the newspaper *Sotsial-Demokrat* No. 43, July 13 (26), 1915 (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 26, pp. 286-297).

*Izvestiya of the Foreign Secretariat of the Organizational Committee of the Russian Social-Democratic Workers' Party* — a Menshevik newspaper; published in Geneva from February 1915 to March 1917. Ten issues appeared.

*Nashe Delo* — a monthly organ of the Menshevik-liquidators, began publication in January 1915 instead of the closed journal *Nasha Zarya*. *Nashe Delo* was the main organ of social-chauvinists in Russia. A total of 6 issues appeared.

---

# LETTER TO G. E. ZINOVIEV

[Between August 30 and September 5, 1915]

So — I congratulate [you] on the new member of the CC! (Alexander^1 has been co-opted. [I was] informed today).

From Radek and Grimm^2 nothing! There is not even a reply to the telegram to Radek which was paid for... (I sent your letter to Grimm long ago. I hope [they] sent Shklovsky after him?).

The brochure suddenly moved forward (Kuzma took pity, having received 200 francs...)^3... I received the proofs today.

If you have disagreements in the future (about the collapse of the leftists — heavens, no need to speak. Let's be silent! There will be time! And in any case the collapse will be [of] Ivan + Pyotr, not of the leftists), — telephone me, for I have come to an agreement with Olga^4 that she correspond with me and [know] what I am publishing.

Regards! Yours, Lenin

P.S. If anything urgent about the conference,^5 telephone. In *Nashe Slovo* Trotsky is spreading [propaganda] for Chkheidze.^6 Did you see? Prepare everything and everyone against Chkheidze. Collect material.

* — nihil — nothing.
** — francs — francs.

^1 Alexander — A. G. Shlyapnikov — during the years of the world imperialist war was engaged in party work in Petrograd and abroad; was a liaison between the Russian and Foreign bureaus of the CC RSDRP.

^2 K. B. Radek — during the years of the world imperialist war stood on internationalist positions, but showed wavering toward centrism.

Robert Grimm — one of the leaders of the Social-Democratic Party of Switzerland, 1909-1918 its secretary and chief editor of the newspaper *Berner Tagwacht* (*Bern Sentinel*). During the years of the world imperialist war — a centrist, participant in the Zimmerwald and Kienthal conferences.

^3 This refers to the brochure by V. I. Lenin "Socialism and War." The brochure was typeset at a small Russian printing house in Geneva, owned by an emigrant from Ukraine K. Lyakhotsky, widely known among political emigrants by the nickname "Kuzma."

^4 Olga — S. N. Ravich — a Social-Democrat. Conducted party work in Russia and abroad.

^5 This refers to the first international socialist conference in Zimmerwald, which took place September 5-8, 1915.

^6 *Nashe Slovo* — a Menshevik newspaper; published with the direct participation of Trotsky in Paris from January 1915 to September 1916.

L. D. Trotsky (Bronshtein) during the period of the world imperialist war occupied a centrist position, lived in Switzerland, France and America, was a contributor and later editor of the Menshevik-liquidationist newspaper *Nashe Slovo*.

N. S. Chkheidze — one of the leaders of Menshevism. Deputy to the III and IV State Dumas from Tiflis Province, headed the S-D faction of the IV Duma.

---

# LETTER TO G. E. ZINOVIEV

[1916, before February 18]

I am sending the brochure by Kollontaieva with a project of corrections.^1 Discuss [it] in detail. (I asked her whether she agrees to the corrections and am awaiting her answer).

Alexander writes that he wants to publish her brochure there. In my opinion, it is worth [it], but with corrections.

Salut! Lenin

^1 Apparently, this refers to the brochure by A. M. Kollontai "Who Needs War?". The brochure was published by the CC RSDRP in Geneva in 1916 in the Russian language.

A. M. Kollontai — a professional revolutionary. From 1906-1915 she was inclined toward the Mensheviks; a member of the Bolshevik party from 1915. From the beginning of the world imperialist war she took a revolutionary-internationalist position.

---

# LETTER TO I. F. ARMAND

[Early February 1916]

I received a long letter about Masha and so forth.^1 It has become even clearer to me that Masha is hopeless and that one must act not from above (more precisely, not only from above), but (mainly) from below, preparing one's own group, purely French. What firm [name matters] unimportant ("International Socialists of France," "Revolutionary Internationalists of France," etc.). What matters is the essence: do not fear a split, understand its inevitability, go against Trotsky and Merrheim,^2 go with the Zimmerwald Left.^3 That is the essence. Such a group (even of 2-3 Frenchmen) is more important than tens and hundreds of Merrheim's friends. If [one is] publishing "Socialism and War,"^4 a chapter on French opposition is necessary. If you don't write [it] in Paris, report precisely the deadline and length, we shall try to send [it].

Regarding the trip "to that country" — in my opinion, for the cause it is useful; the main goal is to form one's own group there (to establish clandestine relations with it). We ourselves didn't know beforehand about the Zimmerwald conference. Grimm deliberately told all of us later.

If Masha turned out to be like that, then personally I am very glad that this... [person] refused to go into our journal.

If we only had our group, we would have proposed to her then to publish a letter to the workers of France.

Such a [specimen] as Merrheim is not worth spending much time on: it is clear that it is hopeless. In all countries only direct enemies of Kautskyanism, only those not afraid of a split, are of interest.

P.S. For Grisha^5 [the main point is] the nail [regarding] attitude toward Chkheidze and Co. Here one must strike at... *Nashe Slovo* and Trotsky and Co.

^1 The reference is to a letter from I. F. Armand from Paris. She reported on the situation in the Paris section of the RSDRP and on the activities of the "Committee for the Restoration of International Relations," in which Bolsheviks participated. Armand also reported difficulties in work with Merrheim, one of the leaders of this committee. "As a result of my first impressions," she wrote, "I think that from above, i.e., through Merrheim's committee, one will barely be able to do anything in the short term. And therefore we will earnestly attend its meetings and will do what we can there, but one must seek other paths — try to act from below" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

Who or what is hidden under the pseudonym "Masha" has not been established.

^2 Alphonse Merrheim — French trade union figure, syndicalist; participated in the Zimmerwald Conference, adhered to the Zimmerwald Right.

^3 Zimmerwald Left — a group of left internationalists, founded on the initiative of V. I. Lenin at the International Socialist Conference in Zimmerwald in September 1915.

^4 This refers to the brochure "Socialism and War (The Attitude of the RSDRP to War)."

^5 This refers to G. Ya. Belensky, member of the Bolshevik party since 1903. In 1912 emigrated to France. In 1914-1917 was secretary of the Paris section of the Bolsheviks.

---

# LETTER TO A. G. SHLYAPNIKOV
AND NOTE ON THE LETTER BY N. K. KRUPSKAYA

11/III 1916

Dear A.! [My] warm regards also. I await long letters from you. Regarding *Kommunist*,^2 the matter has now changed still further, because the Poles (opposition with Radek in their number) took a rather vile position in No. 2 of their newspaper (if you don't have [it], we shall send [it], and let N. I. translate it for you).^3 It will be inevitable to expose them: they are waffling again, as in Brussels.^4 And since that is so, then *Kommunist* anyway loses its meaning (for one cannot give them space there; one cannot and print their letter of refusal). Hence, it will be inevitable to cease *Kommunist*. We shall publish (we have the money) a "Collection of *Sotsial-Demokrat*."^5 Keep this in mind (it is still early to speak of this) in conversations with the Stockholmers. On these days I shall write in more detail.

My "plan" for peace with Yury and Evgeniya Bogdanovna^6 is like this (mine personally; don't speak of it for now, keep it in mind only): cease *Kommunist*. Publish a "Collection of *Sotsial-Demokrat*" under the editorship of *Sotsial-Demokrat*, invite them [to be] contributors. If they want to give 1/3-1/2 of the money — excellent. If they don't want — no need. Let them remain as a group for transport, etc.

Regards! Yours, Lenin

---

Dear friend, we received your telegram from Bern. We send regards! It is good that you managed to survive. We await letters from you. For now we are living in Zurich. Our address: Ulianoff, bei Kammerer, Schuhladen, Spiegelgasse 12, Zurich I.

We think to stay here about a month. What is happening with us, you know from the last letter to Nik. Iv. — about the conference, etc. In England there are desperate atrocities. Papa was forced to leave London; in France the opposition is growing; the same [thing] Parvus writes about Germany in his *Glocke*... Anyway, you will learn all this from the Stockholmers...

About the Petersburg (insurance) elections we know only what was in the legal newspapers. Generally, we are eager to learn everything in detail about Russia — don't be stingy, write. Write about the collegium, whether it has remained, of whom it consists, how it works, etc.

Well, once more very warm regards

N. Krupskaya

^1 N. K. Krupskaya — an outstanding figure in the Communist Party and the Soviet state; wife and comrade of V. I. Lenin.

After the II Congress of the RSDRP — secretary of the editorial board of the Bolshevik newspapers *Vperyod* and *Proletariy*. Working abroad, she conducted extensive correspondence with party organizations in Russia. During the years of the world imperialist war she took active part in the activities of foreign Bolshevik sections, was secretary of their Committee (KZO).

The beginning of the published document was written below the text of N. K. Krupskaya's letter (see above).

^2 The journal *Kommunist* was organized by V. I. Lenin and published by the editorial board of the newspaper *Sotsial-Demokrat* jointly with G. L. Pyatakov and E. B. Bosh, who financed its publication. The editorial board of the journal also included N. I. Bukharin. K. Radek was drawn into active participation in *Kommunist* from the Polish left Social-Democrats. Only one (double) issue of the journal was published in September 1915.

Already in the course of preparation of issues 1-2 of the journal *Kommunist*, differences were revealed between the editorial board of *Sotsial-Demokrat* and Bukharin, Pyatakov, and Bosh, which became more acute after the publication of this issue of the journal. At the same time, Radek also veered to the right and began intriguing against the Bolsheviks. Considering it necessary to cease publication of the journal, V. I. Lenin in April 1916 wrote a "Draft Decision of the CC RSDRP on the Cessation of Publication of the Journal *Kommunist*" (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 27, pp. 279-281). The publication of *Kommunist* was ceased.

^3 This refers to No. 25 of *Gazeta Robotnicza* ("No. 2" — a misprint), published in January 1916. It contained "Resolutions of a Meeting of the Editorial Collegium, held June 1-2, 1915," in which wavering and a conciliationist line appeared on the part of K. B. Radek and his supporters with respect to the Mensheviks. V. I. Lenin's criticism of these resolutions is given in the "Letter of the Committee of Foreign Organizations to the Sections of the RSDRP" (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 27, pp. 275-278).

*Gazeta Robotnicza* (*Workers' Newspaper*) — an illegal organ of the Warsaw Committee of the Social-Democracy of Poland and Lithuania; published May-October 1906, 14 issues appeared, publication was ceased. After the split in 1912 in Polish Social-Democracy, two Warsaw committees arose and two organs were published under the name *Gazeta Robotnicza*: one by supporters of the Central Board in Warsaw (July 1911-July 1913), another by the oppositional Warsaw Committee in Krakow (July 1911-February 1916).

N. I. — Bukharin. Joined the Bolshevik party in 1906. In 1911 emigrated abroad. In 1915 contributed to the journal *Kommunist*, stood on non-Marxist positions on questions of the state, the dictatorship of the proletariat, the right of nations to self-determination, etc.

^4 This refers to the voting of the Polish Social-Democrats (opposition) at the Brussels "unification" conference of July 16-18, 1914, for a resolution proposed in the name of the International Socialist Bureau by Kautsky. The resolution asserted that there were no significant disagreements in Russian Social-Democracy preventing unity.

^5 From summer 1916 the editorial board of the newspaper *Sotsial-Demokrat* began preparing a collection. The "Collection of *Sotsial-Demokrat*" was published under the direct supervision of V. I. Lenin. A total of two issues appeared: No. 1 in October and No. 2 in December 1916. Material was prepared for a third issue, but owing to lack of funds its publication was not carried out.

^6 Yury — G. L. Pyatakov — joined the Bolshevik party in 1910. From 1914 to 1917 — a political emigrant. In 1915-1917 he spoke against V. I. Lenin on the question of the right of nations to self-determination.

E. B. Bosh — a party member from 1901. During the years of the world imperialist war she shared the anti-Leninist views of Bukharin and Pyatakov on the national question.

---

# LETTER TO I. F. ARMAND

[March 19, 1916]

Dear friend! Today we received your very angry postcard and replied to it (or rather, not only to it) with a long letter.^1 Still, one should not, even in a fit of anger, write rude words like "piled on" (in letters): this does not incline one to continue correspondence. If you didn't answer one of your questions, then you should repeat (but you didn't repeat) the question clearly. Your letters are read mostly by four people (in two families), so that if one doesn't notice a question or forgets, then usually another won't forget and will notice, etc.

The novel by two authors (apparently published in Petrograd) I haven't seen.^2 In any case, since it came out, clearly your influence (in your letters to Petrograd) bore fruit. I congratulate [you] from the heart on the success and wish the same [success] thereafter.

Friendly shake hands!

Yours, Lenin

^1 See the present collection, p. 35.

^2 This refers to the brochure "Socialism and War (The Attitude of the RSDRP to War)," published in Paris in the French language (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 26, pp. 307-350). G. E. Zinoviev participated in work on the brochure. However, the brochure was mainly written by V. I. Lenin. He also was responsible for the general editing of the brochure.

* On the postcard V. I. Lenin wrote: "Mlle. Sophie Popoff, Hotel de Belfort, 16. Rue Sophie Germain, 16. Paris. France".
** — Friendly shake hands!

---

# LETTER TO G. E. ZINOVIEV

[Late March 1916]

1) The Russian No. hand over and send proofs. We shall issue [it] immediately, entirely Russian. Send [us] the distribution and size of the articles.

2) Regarding *Kommunist* now (I am sending another letter to Co. Return [it]), I think you will be convinced that you were wrong. Our proposal about the CC, Alexander^3 would accept, take to Russia and cause a row. Now there is one way out: make them bear responsibility; show and prove that they came out as a faction.

3) Alexander's letter is archly important. It is clear that the gossip of the "woman"^4 is working at full strength and defeated Alexander on 9/10. Is it worth bringing him out? I am wavering. Already too late. Already hopeless (for even Kollontaieva^5 is against — tut! tut! NB nota bene!!). Is it not better to try to send someone to Russia? But whom? Ludmila?^6 That would be good. Inessa?^7 That would also be good, but she won't go. This must be thought over more carefully.

4) "Not for a million" [would I make] a bloc with *Nashe Slovo* and so forth in transport. Entirely in agreement with you on this.

5) Beyond the circle you indicated, I also don't wish to send my answer to Bukharin. Only to Papa^8 and Ludmila will I send [it].

6) Radek is liquidating the bureau of the left. If he is going in for peace, then let him send our theses to Knief^9 and other leftists or better give us their addresses. Formally we have not violated the bloc in any way, just as materially either. The proposal from the CC does not exclude compromise on a bloc of the Zimmerwald Left. If Radek gives the theses on Saturday, send [them] immediately, so that I have [them] Sunday morning.

7) Should we give money to I. S. D.^10 for one more delegate? Ask Radek, how much and then we'll discuss.

8) I am returning Alexander's letter. What is to be done with this letter? Should you alone answer it, or I as well? Did he ask you not to show [it] to me?

If you write, you must think it over very carefully. I advise you to strike at the "woman"^* with all force: the entire gossip comes from her. Here [is the] end; the matter is clear.

9) 5 secretaries are playing a double game. Here Martov^11 + K went out of the group of *Nashe Slovo* people. Martov read in it his declaration of withdrawal from the editorial board of *Nashe Slovo*!!

In my opinion, [one should] tell Veys^12 (crook!) at the discussion: if "your people" break in reality both with *Samozashchita*^13 and with Chkheidze, then we are glad to unify!!

10) No. on "self-determination"? Is it not better to wait for No. 2 of *Vorbote*,^14 to answer immediately the theses of Radek and Co.?^15 In my opinion, better. We shall turn in the theses for typesetting, then wait for Radek's theses (perhaps you will receive them in proofs?) and immediately after *Vorbote* our issue. This is better. Will Radek refuse to show you his counter-theses?

11) Will Radek agree to give us full [number of] pages in *Vorbote* (No. 2) for our theses? And when is the deadline?

I will propose a couple of 2-3 additions more.

Salut. Lenin

P.S. Regarding my nerves I very much apologize for causing unpleasantness. My nerves are in a terrible state.

^1 This refers to No. 53 of the newspaper *Sotsial-Demokrat*, entirely devoted to events in Russia (published April 13, 1916).

^2 V. I. Lenin is referring to the members of the editorial board of the journal *Kommunist*: G. L. Pyatakov, E. B. Bosh, and N. I. Bukharin.

^3 Alexander — A. G. Shlyapnikov.

^4 This refers to E. B. Bosh.

^5 V. I. Lenin is referring to A. M. Kollontai.

^6 Ludmila — L. N. Stahl, member of the RSDRP since 1897.

^7 V. I. Lenin is referring to I. F. Armand.

^8 Papa — M. M. Litvinov, a party member from 1898, a Bolshevik.

^9 This refers to the "Proposal of the Central Committee of the RSDRP to the Second Socialist Conference" (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 27, pp. 282-293).

Johann Knief — a German Communist. During the world imperialist war was a member of the group "International."

* Below in the handwriting of N. K. Krupskaya is written the following text: ""Practical" Alexander sent nothing. Everything that was received was sent to you. By the way, did you receive the letter where was my letter to..." (further a word is not deciphered) "with the resolution of the KZO? Alexander still has not sent the composition of the bureau. I did not expect such disloyalty from him — instead of corresponding, [he] immediately believed all the foolishness of N. Iv. about Malinovsky, Kamenev, etc. Now we are guilty in transport that we didn't develop his paths! About what he did in Russia (besides squabbling with the PK) — not a word. Who are these "Russians" who "want, demand, insist" — workers or Avilov and Co.? [It's] terribly insulting. Doesn't Inessa write when she returns. From England a further 496 francs received (in total a thousand)".

^10 "I. S. D." — "Internationale Sozialisten Deutschlands" ("International Socialists of Germany") — a group of German left Social-Democrats, arising during the first world war.

^11 L. Martov (Yu. O. Tsederbaum) — one of the leaders of Menshevism. During the world imperialist war occupied a centrist position.

^12 F. Veys (Menders) — one of the leaders of the Latvian Mensheviks.

^13 This refers to the collection *Samozashchita* [Self-Defense] with articles by V. Zasulich, A. Potresov, P. Maslov, Anya (N. Zhordania), and others, published in Petrograd in 1916.

^14 *Vorbote* (*Forerunner*) — journal, theoretical organ of the Zimmerwald Left; published in German in Bern. Two issues appeared: No. 1 in January and No. 2 in April 1916. V. I. Lenin took active part in founding the journal. On the pages of the journal a discussion unfolded among left Zimmerwald participants on the question of the right of nations to self-determination and the slogan of "disarmament."

^15 "Radek's and Co.'s theses" — V. I. Lenin calls the "Theses on Imperialism and National Oppression," which were compiled by K. Radek and printed under the signature of the editorial board of *Gazeta Robotnicza* in the journal *Vorbote* No. 2 in April 1916, and then in Russian in the "Collection of *Sotsial-Demokrat*" No. 1. The answer to them were the theses of the editorial board of the Central Organ of the RSDRP newspaper *Sotsial-Demokrat* — "The Socialist Revolution and the Right of Nations to Self-Determination," printed also in the journal *Vorbote* No. 2, and in Russian in the "Collection of *Sotsial-Demokrat*" No. 1 in October 1916 (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 27, pp. 252-266).

---

# SECOND INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST CONFERENCE IN KIENTHAL

[Between April 24 and 30, 1916]

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH PIERRE BRIZON

It is not a matter of theory because "pacifism" (represented by Vandervelde and company) serves in reality, in practice, to divert the masses from revolutionary struggle.

Revolutionary struggle — except in Parliaments and insofar as parliamentarism can be revolutionary — is impossible in countries where the proletariat is under arms. Let us not forget reality.

===

We are against "pacifism," believing that it is only bourgeois deception and that it is revolutionary struggle, and not sonorous phrases about peace, that is the true means of attaining socialism — the only guarantee of peace.

Yes — but today that is theory. Let us speak of the means of ending this war. What you say is good for preventing other wars — by emphasizing the importance of socialist propaganda.

---

# REMARKS ON THE PROJECT OF THESES
"THE ATTITUDE OF THE PROLETARIAT TO THE QUESTION OF PEACE"

Lenin

The Position of the Proletariat Toward the Question of Peace.
[Project for] Theses

[objective]
The current war is the result of imperialist contradictions produced by bourgeois property relations; its aim [is]

[Underlined here and below by P. Brizon.]

# THE REGROUPING OF POWER RELATIONS BETWEEN 
THE CAPITALIST CLASSES ON THE WORLD MARKET, 
ACCORDING TO 
THE 
MILITARY 
SUCCESSES 
ACHIEVED IN THE WAR. 
SINCE THE AIM OF THE WAR IS NOT THE 
SUBLATION OF CAPITALIST COMMODITY PRODUCTION, WHICH 
GAVE RISE TO IT, IT IS LIKEWISE UNABLE TO ELIMINATE 
THE CAUSES OF FUTURE WARS. IT LEAVES THE OLD PROBLEMS 
UNRESOLVED, ENTANGLES THEM FURTHER, AND CREATES 
NEW 
CONTRADICTIONS WHICH, ON THE BASIS OF UNIMPEDED 
IMPERIALIST DEVELOPMENT, ALONGSIDE INTENSIFIED ECONOMIC 
AND MILITARY OPPRESSION, GIVE RISE TO NEW CONFLICTS AND THUS THE DANGER OF FURTHER MILITARY ENTANGLEMENTS. 
THEREFORE, WHEN THE BOURGEOIS GOVERNMENTS AND THEIR 
AGENTS CLAIM THAT THE WAR HAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF 
A LASTING PEACE AS ITS OBJECTIVE, THEY ARE EITHER 
LYING OR IGNORING THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR THE 
REALIZATION OF SUCH AN AIM. JUST AS ANNEXATIONS — THAT IS, 
THE OPPRESSION OF FOREIGN PEOPLES — CANNOT BE THE MEANS 
TO ENSURE PEACEFUL DEVELOPMENT OF HUMANITY, SO LIKEWISE 
CAN LASTING PEACE NOT BE BROUGHT ABOUT THROUGH DEMANDS 
THAT, WHILE WELL-INTENTIONED, STAND IN CONTRADICTION 
TO THE HISTORICAL CONDITIONS OF CAPITALISM, SUCH AS 
LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS, INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY 
ARBITRATION, DEMOCRATIZATION OF FOREIGN POLICY, ETC. 
ON THE BASIS OF A CLASS SOCIETY, THESE DEMANDS REMAIN 
A UTOPIA. THE LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS, WHICH IS ITSELF 
ONLY A MEANS OF ESTABLISHING AN ARMISTICE BETWEEN THE 
IMPERIALIST STATES, IS UNABLE TO ELIMINATE OR MITIGATE 
THE CAUSES OF WAR, QUITE APART FROM THE FACT THAT IN THE 
AGE OF IMPERIALISM THERE EXISTS NO UNIVERSALLY VALID 
STANDARD BY WHICH ARMAMENTS COULD BE LIMITED. COMPULSORY 
ARBITRATION COURTS PRESUPPOSE A UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED 
RIGHT, WHICH CAN NEITHER BE CREATED BY THE BRUTE FORCE 
OF AN IMPERIALIST WAR NOR REALIZED IN A CLASS SOCIETY WHOSE 
LEGAL CONSCIOUSNESS AT EACH GIVEN STAGE FLOWS FROM THE 
MATERIAL INTERESTS OF ITS RULING CLASS. THE DEMOCRATIZATION 
OF FOREIGN POLICY PRESUPPOSES, ALONGSIDE POLITICAL 
DEMOCRACY, ALSO SOCIAL DEMOCRACY IN THE INTERNAL LIFE OF 
STATES, THE CREATION OF WHICH, IN TURN, IS IMPOSSIBLE SO 
LONG AS THE CAPITALIST FORM OF PROPERTY EXISTS, AND WITH IT 
THE EXPLOITATION OF MAN BY MAN. 

THE SAME PRESUPPOSITIONS HOLD FOR THE SO-CALLED RIGHT 
OF NATIONS TO SELF-DETERMINATION. SO LONG AS PEOPLES IN THEIR 
INTERNAL ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND SOCIAL RELATIONS ARE 
SUBJECT TO THE RULE OF PROPERTIED CLASSES WHICH COMMAND 
ALL ECONOMIC AND STATE MEANS OF POWER, BY MEANS OF WHICH 
THEY OPPRESS AND EXPLOIT THEIR OWN FELLOW COUNTRYMEN, 
THE PEOPLE CANNOT DETERMINE THEMSELVES. 

PROCEEDING FROM THESE CONSIDERATIONS, THE PROLETARIAT 
MUST, WITH THE SAME DECISIVENESS WITH WHICH IT REJECTS 
THE IMPERIALIST WAR, ALSO REJECT THE UTOPIAN DEMANDS OF 
BOURGEOIS PACIFISTS AND EMBOURGEOISIFIED SOCIALISTS, WHO 
ARE PREPARING TO AWAKEN NEW ILLUSIONS IN PLACE OF THE 
OLD AND TO COMPEL THE PROLETARIAT TO SERVE THESE 
ILLUSIONS, WHICH IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS SERVE ONLY 
CONFUSION, THE AROUSAL AND FOMENTING OF CHAUVINISM, 
MILITARIST ENTHUSIASM, AND THE POLICY OF FIGHTING ON 
TO VICTORY IN THE WAR. 

II 

IF ON THE BASIS OF CAPITALIST SOCIETY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE 
TO ESTABLISH LASTING PEACE, THEN ITS PRESUPPOSITIONS ARE 
CREATED IN THE STRUGGLE FOR SOCIALISM. BY SUBLATING CAPITALIST 
PRIVATE PROPERTY, SOCIALISM ELIMINATES SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH 
THE EXPLOITATION OF THE POPULAR MASSES BY PROPERTIED CLASSES, 
AND WITH NATIONAL OPPRESSION, ALSO THE CAUSES OF WAR. 
THEREFORE, THE STRUGGLE FOR LASTING PEACE CAN CONSIST ONLY 
IN THE STRUGGLE FOR THE REALIZATION OF SOCIALISM. EVERY 
PROLETARIAN ACTION WHICH IS A RENUNCIATION OF CLASS STRUGGLE 
AND SUBORDINATES THE AIMS OF THE PROLETARIAT TO THE AIMS OF 
THE BOURGEOIS CLASSES AND THEIR GOVERNMENTS, INSOFAR AS IT 
SHOWS SOLIDARITY WITH THE NATIONAL EXPLOITING CLASS, WORKS 
AGAINST THE CREATION OF CONDITIONS FOR LASTING PEACE. SUCH 
ACTIONS NOT ONLY TRUST THE CAPITALIST CLASSES AND BOURGEOIS 
GOVERNMENTS WITH A TASK WHICH THEY CANNOT PERFORM, THEY 
MOREOVER SENSELESSLY CAST THE BEST FORCES OF THE WORKING 
CLASS INTO THE SLAUGHTER AND THUS CONDEMN TO DESTRUCTION 
AND RUIN THE MOST VIGOROUS AND CAPABLE PART OF THE WORKING 
CLASS, WHICH WOULD BE CALLED IN THE FIRST PLACE TO CARRY 
ON THE STRUGGLE FOR SOCIALISM BOTH DURING THE WAR AND IN 
THE PEACEFUL PERIOD FOLLOWING IT. 

THE ONLY SOLUTION POSSIBLE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF 
PROLETARIAN INTERESTS, IN CONTRAST TO BOURGEOIS PEACE AIMS, 
IS THEREFORE THE CALL FOR IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES 
AND URGENT COMMENCEMENT OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS, REGARDLESS 
OF THE GIVEN STATE OF MILITARY AND STRATEGIC POSITIONS. 

III 

ONLY INSOFAR AS THIS CALL FINDS AN ECHO IN THE RANKS OF 
THE INTERNATIONAL PROLETARIAT AND LEADS TO VIGOROUS ACTIONS 
IN THE SPIRIT OF CLASS STRUGGLE WITH THE OVERTHROW OF 
CAPITALIST CLASS RULE AS ITS FINAL AIM, WILL THE WORKING 
CLASS SUCCEED IN EXERTING INFLUENCE ON THE CHARACTER OF THE 
COMING PEACE. EVERY OTHER POSITION EXCLUDES THE INFLUENCE OF 
THE PROLETARIAT ON THE CHARACTER OF PEACE AND LEAVES THE 
ESTABLISHMENT OF ITS CONDITIONS TO THE ARBITRARY WILL OF 
GOVERNMENTS, DIPLOMACY, AND THE RULING CLASSES. 

IN WAGING REVOLUTIONARY MASS STRUGGLE FOR THE REALIZATION 
OF THE ULTIMATE AIMS OF SOCIALISM, AND THUS FOR THE 
LIBERATION OF HUMANITY FROM THE SCOURGE OF MILITARISM AND 
WAR, THE PROLETARIAT MUST SIMULTANEOUSLY TURN AGAINST ALL 
ANNEXATIONIST APPETITES OF THE WARRING STATES. THE PROLETARIAT 
MUST WAGE THE STRUGGLE AGAINST ANNEXATIONS NOT BECAUSE IT 
REGARDS THE WORLD MAP AS IT EXISTED BEFORE THE WAR AS AN 
IMMOVABLE MAGNITUDE, NOT BECAUSE IT CONSIDERS FUTURE 
REDRAWING OF STATE BOUNDARIES UNNECESSARY AND IMPOSSIBLE. 
SOCIALISM ITSELF STRIVES FOR THE ELIMINATION OF ALL NATIONAL 
OPPRESSION THROUGH THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL UNIFICATION 
OF PEOPLES ON A DEMOCRATIC BASIS, WHICH CANNOT BE REALIZED 
WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF CAPITALIST STATE BOUNDARIES. BUT 
PRECISELY ANNEXATIONS, IN WHATEVER FORM THEY APPEAR, 
MAKE THE ATTAINMENT OF THIS AIM DIFFICULT, BECAUSE THE VIOLENT 
DISMEMBERMENT OF NATIONS, THEIR ARBITRARY PARTITION AND 
INCORPORATION INTO FOREIGN STATES, WORSEN THE CONDITIONS 
OF PROLETARIAN CLASS STRUGGLE. 

EQUALLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE INTERESTS OF THE PROLETARIAT 
AS ANNEXATIONS IS THE DEMAND FOR WAR REPARATIONS. JUST AS 
THE RULING CLASSES IN EACH COUNTRY SEEK TO SHIFT THE COSTS OF 
WAGING WAR ONTO THE SHOULDERS OF THE WORKING CLASS, SO THE 
BURDEN OF PAYING REPARATIONS MUST ULTIMATELY BE BORNE BY 
THE PROLETARIAT OF THE RESPECTIVE COUNTRY. SUCH A SHIFTING OF 
THE BURDEN HARMS ALSO THE WORKING CLASS OF THE VICTORIOUS 
COUNTRY, INSOFAR AS THE WORSENING OF THE ECONOMIC AND 
SOCIAL SITUATION OF THE PROLETARIAT OF ONE COUNTRY HAS A 
RECIPROCAL EFFECT ON THE PROLETARIAT OF ANOTHER COUNTRY AND 
THUS MAKES THE CONDITIONS OF INTERNATIONAL CLASS STRUGGLE 
MORE DIFFICULT. 

NEITHER ANNEXATIONS NOR REPARATIONS, BUT COMMON 
LIBERATION FROM THE BURDEN OF WAR THROUGH THE 
REVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLE OF THE PROLETARIAT AGAINST THE 
RULING CLASSES IN EACH COUNTRY — SUCH IS THE SLOGAN OF 
SOCIALIST WORKERS IN THEIR ACTION FOR THE IMMEDIATE 
ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE. 

PRECISELY BECAUSE THE PRESENT WAR IS ROOTED VERY DEEPLY IN THE TOTALITY 
OF RELATIONS OF THE IMPERIALIST EPOCH (COMPETITION FOR WORLD DOMINATION, 
FINANCE CAPITAL, MONOPOLIES, THE PARTITION OF THE WORLD, ETC.), THEREFORE 
BENEVOLENT PHRASES ABOUT LASTING PEACE, ABOUT DEMOCRATIC PEACE, ETC., 
ABOUT A PEACE WHICH ALLEGEDLY WOULD BE POSSIBLE UNDER THE PRESENT 
GOVERNMENTS, WITH POWER REMAINING IN THE HANDS OF THE RULING BOURGEOIS 
CLASS, SUCH PHRASES DECEIVE THE MASSES, HIDING FROM THEM THE TRUE, ACTUAL 
FOUNDATIONS OF IMPERIALIST POLICY, INSPIRE FALSE CONFIDENCE IN THE BOURGEOISIE, 
AND TRANSFORM THEMSELVES INTO REFORMISM.

---

TRANSLATION

The Attitude of the Proletariat toward the Question of Peace

Draft Theses

I

The present war is the result of imperialist contradictions engendered by bourgeois relations of property; its aim is the regrouping of the correlation of forces between the capitalist classes on the world market in accordance with the military successes achieved in the war. Insofar as the aim of this war is not the destruction of capitalist commodity production which gave rise to it, it is likewise unable to eliminate the causes of future wars. It leaves the old problems unresolved, entangles them even more, and creates new contradictions which, on the basis of unimpeded imperialist development, give rise, alongside the intensification of economic and militarist oppression, to new conflicts and thus to the danger of further military clashes.

Therefore, when bourgeois governments and their agents assert that the aim of the war is the establishment of lasting peace, they are lying or ignoring the conditions necessary for the achievement of such an aim. Just as annexations—that is, the oppression of foreign peoples—cannot be a means which would ensure the peaceful development of humanity, so likewise is it impossible to establish lasting peace through such, admittedly well-intentioned, but contradictory to the historical conditions of (capitalist) development, demands as limitation of armaments, introduction of compulsory arbitration courts, democratization of foreign policy, etc.

On the basis of [capitalist] class society, these demands remain utopia. The limitation of armaments, which in itself is merely a means of establishing an armistice between imperialist states, is unable either to destroy or to mitigate the causes of war, to say nothing of the fact that in the epoch of imperialism there exists no universally obligatory standard by which armaments could be limited. Compulsory arbitration courts presuppose the existence of universally recognized law, which can neither be created by means of the brute force of imperialist war nor realized in such a class society whose legal consciousness at each given stage flows from the material interests of its ruling class. The democratization of foreign policy has as its presupposition the existence alongside political democracy of social democracy as well in the internal life of states, the creation of which, in turn, is impossible so long as the capitalist form of property exists, and with it the exploitation of man by man.

The very same presuppositions are necessary for the so-called right of nations to self-determination. So long as peoples in their internal economic, political, and social relations are subject to the rule of propertied classes which command all economic and state means of power by means of which they oppress and exploit their own fellow countrymen, the people cannot determine themselves.

Proceeding from these considerations, the proletariat must with the same decisiveness with which it rejects the imperialist war also reject the utopian demands of bourgeois pacifists and embourgeoisified socialists who are preparing to awaken new illusions in place of the old and to compel the proletariat to serve these illusions, which in the final analysis only serve confusion, the arousal and fomenting of chauvinism, militarist intoxication, and the policy of war to the bitter end.

II

If on the basis of capitalist society it is impossible to establish lasting peace, then its presuppositions are created in the struggle for socialism. Socialism, by destroying capitalist private property, simultaneously eliminates with the exploitation of the popular masses by propertied classes, and also with national oppression, the causes of war. Therefore, the struggle for lasting peace can consist only in the struggle for the realization of socialism. Every proletarian action which is a renunciation of class struggle and subordinates the aims of the proletariat to the aims of the bourgeois classes and their governments, insofar as it shows solidarity with the national exploiting class, impedes the creation of conditions for lasting peace. Such actions merely trust the capitalist classes and bourgeois governments with a task which they cannot fulfill; moreover, they senselessly cast the best forces of the working class into the slaughter and thus condemn to destruction and ruin the most energetic and capable part of the working class, which above all would be called upon to wage the struggle for socialism both during the war and in the subsequent peaceful period.

The only possible solution from the standpoint of proletarian interests, compared to bourgeois aims for peace, is therefore the call for immediate conclusion of an armistice and urgent commencement of peace negotiations, regardless of the military and strategic position at the given stage.

III

Only insofar as this call finds an echo in the ranks of the international proletariat and leads to vigorous action in the spirit of class struggle with the final aim of the overthrow of capitalist class rule will the working class succeed in exerting influence on the character of the coming peace. Any other position excludes the influence of the proletariat on the character of peace and leaves the establishment of its conditions to the arbitrary will of governments, diplomacy, and the ruling classes.

Leading a revolutionary mass struggle for the realization of the ultimate aims of socialism, and thus for humanity's deliverance from the scourge of militarism and war, the proletariat must simultaneously turn against all annexationist appetites of the warring states. The proletariat must wage the struggle against annexations not because it regards the (political) map of the world as it existed before the war as some immovable quantity, not because it considers the future formation of new state boundaries unnecessary and impossible. Socialism itself strives for the elimination of all national oppression through the economic and political unification of peoples on a democratic basis, which cannot be realized within the framework of capitalist state boundaries. But precisely annexations, in whatever form they appear, make the attainment of this goal difficult, because the violent dismemberment of nations, their arbitrary partition and incorporation into foreign states, worsen the conditions of proletarian class struggle.

Just as much as annexations, incompatible with the interests of the proletariat is the demand for war contributions. Just as the ruling classes in each country seek to shift the burden of the costs of waging war onto the shoulders of the working class, so the burden of paying war contributions must ultimately be borne as well by the proletariat of the respective country. Such shifting of the burden will inflict harm also on the working class of the victorious country, insofar as the worsening of the economic and social situation of the proletariat of one country exerts a reciprocal effect on the proletariat of another country and thus makes the conditions of international class struggle more difficult.

Neither annexations nor war contributions, but common liberation from the burden of war through the revolutionary struggle of the proletariat against the ruling classes in each country—such is the slogan of socialist workers in their action for the immediate establishment of peace.

Precisely because the present war is rooted very deeply in the totality of the relations of the imperialist epoch (competition for world domination, finance capital, monopolies, partition of the world, etc.), therefore benevolent phrases about lasting peace, about democratic peace, etc., about peace which allegedly would be possible under the present governments, with power remaining in the hands of the ruling bourgeois class, such phrases deceive the masses, concealing from them the true, actual foundations of imperialist policy, inspire false confidence in the bourgeoisie, and transform themselves into reformism.

---

SKETCH OF A SPEECH AT A MEETING OF THE COMMISSION 
ON THE QUESTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST 
BUREAU

[In two words I will answer Martov. He accuses me of stabbing the Zimmerwald majority in the back when I say that it wanted to reconcile itself with Vandervelde. But the Zimmerwald majority should not have said and did not...]

In two words I will answer Martov. In reproaching me for my criticism of the Zimmerwald majority, he does not answer what I already pointed out once: that in the bulletin—not in the second issue as Grimm said, but in the first—it was stated that our I.S.K. would resign (declare itself dissolved) if the old Bureau fulfilled its duty. This was not voted on at Zimmerwald.

I wish chiefly to answer Modigliani. He wants to be practical. He is not at all practical. He...

---

LETTER TO I. F. ARMAND

[June 30, 1916]

Dear friend! I have just made inquiries at the local German consulate here. The appropriate official was not at home. For now I have learned the exact address in Munich: "Stellvertretendes Generalkommando in München."

Then, they say, one must apply here: Reichsdeutsches Generalkonsulat in Zurich. Zurich. Kaspar Escherhaus.

I advise you to write here (not from Bern, but from Hertenstein, for example, or from some other place) a registered letter and to enclose a paid envelope for the reply, and in the letter ask whether one should apply to Munich for permission to travel through Germany to Copenhagen and back within 2-3 months. (Reasons: (1) heart disease; (2) an émigré, without proper Russian papers; (3) purpose—a visit with the children). I think one could write in French as well (to Zurich) and from Bern as well. They will answer.

Friendly greetings! Your Lenin

---

LETTER TO I. F. ARMAND

July 2, 1916

Dear friend! You appear to be very depressed and nervous on account of the failure. But do not lose heart. The unpleasantness at the German consulate is trifling; is it worth paying attention to? And have not all émigrés experienced the like in all dealings with the authorities!

Ganetzky told me that they let his wife travel through Germany and that the petition should be submitted to Munich to the military authorities (Oberkommando der Armee in München, as it should be, I suppose).

I would therefore advise you, if you want to get to Norway, to do this: write to the German consulate in Bern a registered letter (enclosing an envelope with a stamp for the reply), saying that your acquaintances have informed you of precedents for allowing passage through Germany to women—subjects of countries at war with Germany—and that one must apply to the Oberkommando in Munich. You ask them to confirm this procedure for you, to give you the exact address of the Oberkommando in Munich. It is possible that the villains will be frightened that you know the procedure and will answer. If they do not answer, I advise you still to write to Munich at this address a registered letter in German; within 3-4 days send them a telegram with a paid reply; write that you are traveling to see your children, that you are an émigré who fled from trial in a Social-Democratic case. Dryly, factually.

If they do not answer, you can travel via France and England. We will obtain money for you if needed, do not worry. It is not worth appealing to Swiss socialists. There are no other "ways."

I have written to Olga and sent a letter to Huilbert through her. Thank you for the newspapers.

I shake your hand firmly and wish you more peace of mind and more trips, if not around Europe, then around Switzerland and in the mountains.

Your Lenin

---

NOTE FROM I. F. ARMAND

February 2, 1917

Dear friend! Please send me my article on pacifism. I need precisely a typewritten copy. If you still need this article, I will send you a handwritten copy.

Best regards

Lenin

---

LETTER TO K. B. RADEK

[March 13, 1917]

Dear Radek! I was about to write to you when your postcard came with the promise to write in detail "tomorrow." But "tomorrow" came and went, and again "tomorrow," and again—no news!!

Please send me back the Swedish letter—I have asked you twice. Is it possible that you have lost it?

And about Jul. Borchardt? No news? Have you not yet obtained the book by Karl Erdmann?

Have you seen No. 10 of the organ O.K. ("Izvestiya O.K.")? Martynov writes that you have not refuted Grimm's lie, ergo!!!!

But the entire contents of this article by Martynov is so idiotic—this fool helps us excellently.

We have written to Karl. Thank you very much for your information about his health.

Best regards to you and your wife from both of us.

Lenin

P.S. Do write a few words!

---

INVENTORY OF PERSONAL EFFECTS

Lenin

(April 6, 1917)

1) Basket with household things (valuable). (Key to it).

2) Basket with valuable books.

3) (Cardboard) box with newspaper clippings.

4) Same: a small box of wooden slats.

5) Box with archive.

6) Basket with non-valuable newspapers, etc.

7) Swedish kerosene stove.

---

LETTER TO I. F. ARMAND

April 20, 1917

Dear friend! I have just received two packages for you—from those that were taken out of your basket. They are poorly packed, only in newspaper paper.

But we have not yet received a single package!

Everything here is still seething, although the persecution apparently is beginning to die down somewhat.

Are you seeing all the local newspapers?

Please write a few words about receiving this letter—best of all to the address of our newspaper to the secretary of the newspaper (on the envelope: personal for V. I.). Do not write to any other address. As for the packages, perhaps it would be best if someone traveling there takes them for you.

How did Olminsky receive you? Are you satisfied with Moscow?

Best regards!

Your V. I.

---

LETTER TO I. F. ARMAND

[Before May 12 (25), 1917]

Dear friend! Thank you for the letter. We have finally received the packages. Packages have arrived for you as well. Sokolnikov promises to take everything with him in the next few days. I saw him yesterday and hope he will keep his promise. You have written the address correctly (in the letter to me); write the same way henceforth (this is probably more convenient), adding on the envelope as well: for V. I.

I wish you all the best in the sense of work, and in the sense of arranging for earnings, and in the sense of life with the children.

With us it is still "the same as before."

Your Lenin

---

LETTER TO I. F. ARMAND

[May, later than May 12 (25), 1917]

Dear friend!

I wrote you a postcard by mail, reporting about sending you packages through Sokolnikov.

I do not know if the postcard reached you. Did you receive the packages?

With us everything is the same as you yourself saw here, and there is "no end to the exhaustion." I am beginning to "give way," sleeping three times more than others, etc.

How are you? Are you satisfied with Moscow? With great pleasure I sometimes see from the Moscow "Social-Democrat" how you take on various work in different districts, but of course little is visible from the newspaper.

I shake your hand firmly, firmly.

Your Lenin

---

(December) — 1918

DIRECTIVE ON SENDING GUARDS TO THE TAURIDE PALACE

December 9 (22), 1917

To the Acting Commander of the Petrograd Military District
Kazantsev

Orders are issued to send guards to the Tauride Palace according to the instructions of the Chief of Security Blagonirov or the Commandant Prigorovskiy.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

---

REPLY VIA DIRECT LINE TO N. V. KRYLENKOV

December 13 (26), 1917

We agree with your policy. We agree on the electability of the Commander-in-Chief. Upon your departure, issue orders to the most energetic people so that in Kharkov as soon as possible there could be a sufficiency of completely reliable troops and so that the movement proceeds without stopping before any obstacles or any other considerations.

Lenin

We are extremely concerned about the sluggish movement of troops from the front to Kharkov. Take all measures, up to the most revolutionary, for the most vigorous movement of troops and furthermore in large quantities to Kharkov.

Lenin

Printed from the text of the telegraph tape

---

LETTER TO YA. A. BERZIN

[1917, December, before December 24 (January 6, 1918)]

Dear Pavel Vasilievich!

I have received your letter. I am answering—excuse the haste.

You must take treatment and continue taking treatment.

I do not advise traveling for now.

For the Constituent Assembly we will call you: give me the nearest telephone number and repeat your letter. Rest for now.

Your Lenin

---

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH V. D. BONCH-BRUYEVICH

[January 3 (16), 1918]

Vlad. Ilyich,

I ask you to tell me precisely right now what date you spoke at the Mikhailovskiy Manege and at what hour you were shot at.

Vl. Bonch-Bruyevich

I do not remember. Check the newspapers.

---

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH M. S. URITSKIY

[January 5 (18), 1918]

To Uritskiy:

At what hour was the volley fired? 10? Around 10? What part of Shpalernaya? Between Liteynaya and Znamenskaya? Nearby Liteynaya in the direction toward Tauride?

Approximately at 10¼-10½ between Voskresenskaya and Tavricheskaya on Shpalernaya. The glass broke on the left side. The volley came from above, apparently from the right.

M. U.

Answer here!

Lenin

---

NOTE TO V. D. BONCH-BRUYEVICH

[1918, January, not before January 7 (20)]

Of course, one must arrest them.

And in order to convene the T.S.I.K., send this note to Sverdlov.

Lenin

---

NOTE TO V. D. BONCH-BRUYEVICH

January 8 (21), 1918

To V. D. Bonch-Bruyevich

Write me briefly: how is the matter of the arrest of the murderers. Is it true that Kreis is not wanted to be handed over?

Lenin

---

DIRECTIVE TO L. N. STARK

January 8 (21), 1918

Comrade Stark!

On the basis of the report of comrade Radek, I ask you to consult with comrade Shotman (member of the collegium of the post and telegraph office) on the question of providing radio for the most important communications of the P.T.A.

Lenin

---

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH F. E. DZERZHINSKY

[January 9 (22), 1918]

Why have you not given a draft decree (1) on the complete prohibition of the export of machine oil and similar items to Finland? (2) on an audit commission for supervision? (3) on sending agents to Tornio to catch sellers?

We came to you today with a report on this matter.

---

NOTE TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

January 16 (29), 1918

The Russian subject Samuel Hatkin (Samuel Hatkin), who lived in Riga in 1906 and made the acquaintance there of Platten, who vouches for him, requests permission to enter Russia.

I ask that he be granted permission to enter.

Lenin

[January 20 (February 2), 1918]
Petrograd,
Sunday.
(Petrograd Bureau
Folkets
Dagblad. Telegram received with delay).
Yesterday
in the afternoon Lenin received
your
correspondent and had a lengthy conversation with him.
He reported that for the past two days Smolny has had no contact
with Brest-Litovsk
2. No information has been received from there during this time. T r o t s k y
3 sits there as if in the Petrograd fortress. This proves that the Germans want to
hide something. 
Surely, the internal situation in Germany is critical. It is possible that by such behavior they also want
to influence the Russians, but they are mistaken. Trotsky will not allow himself to be seduced by such methods. We too will
take measures to change this situation.
Regarding the internal situation in Russia, Lenin was
especially full of hope.
On the Don we control the situation. Kiev is ours. We have just received word that Orenburg
has been taken by Bolshevik forces
4 and that the Cossacks under the command
of General Dutoev
5 have suffered a severe defeat. 40 Cossack
regiments have declared war on Kaledin. 
One fine day he, 
possibly,
will be brought here as a
prisoner
6. 
In military terms, we have advantage
everywhere in the country. Even sabotage by the bourgeoisie is retreating. The organization of all groups of employees
has just decided to begin negotiations with Smolny in order to resume work
at all state enterprises. Besides this, work
is being conducted on the
nationalization of the means of production. 
Recently the tanning
industry was nationalized, just as metallurgy was nationalized before,
and they are being managed jointly by workers and capitalists, with decisive
influence belonging to the former. And the grain question is beginning to clarify itself. Yesterday at Smolny there was a Siberian delegation that promised effective support from Siberia,
where grain is in abundance. Yesterday two whole railway cars
arrived from Siberia with grain, rice and
other foodstuffs. Opposition from the Mensheviks
and Right Socialist-Revolutionaries is becoming increasingly insignificant. At the large Congress of Soviets they were in diminishing minority. Their best forces, apparently, will gradually
come over to us, as some of them have already done. What is especially important to note from the results of the Congress of Soviets is that the overwhelming majority of the Russian people supports the
revolution.
Regarding Finland, Lenin expressed his satisfaction
with the revolution
7. All southern Finland is in the hands of
workers. Tamperfors, which was reported to have been taken by the White Guards, at least still on Saturday
remained in the hands of the Red Guard. In Oulu, on the other hand,
the White Guards inflicted a defeat on the Reds. The White Guard,
which appears to be partially led
by German officers, has also declared war on the Bolsheviks.
From Romania too there are good reports.
The news that the king has been overthrown has certainly not yet
been confirmed, but it is not excluded that it has indeed happened.
Yes, we will soon finish with the small states, said Lenin with his
good-natured, sarcastic smile. If only everything goes well in Germany afterwards.
In conclusion, to the correspondent's question about his health, Lenin
replied that he felt excellent, despite the enormous burden of work, which leaves him almost no time for sleep.
I have only one dream, he said, to rest for even half an hour.
Published according to the newspaper "Folkets Dasfblad Politiken"
Translation from Swedish


---


NOTE TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FINANCE

January 24 (February 6), 1918

To the Commissariat of Finance
Moyka, 43

The petitioner — Evdokia Andreyevna Essen —
wishes to submit a petition regarding the issuance to her of her deposit in the State
Bank. I ask you to explain to her how this petition should be
drawn up, to whom and in what order it should be submitted, and what
documents it should be accompanied by.

Lenin


---


TELEGRAM TO THE PEOPLE'S SECRETARY OF UKRAINE
E. V. LUGANOVSKY

[February 14, 1918]

Kharkov
To the People's Secretary Luganovsky

I have ordered that a copy be presented to me of the
mandate given to Kudinskiy by Podvoyskiy
2. It is doubtful that this mandate
could apply to Ukraine, where all commissars traveling from here are obliged to
submit to the Ukrainian people's secretariat and, 
consequently, to You.

I ask You to send a copy of this telegram or the
original of it to Kudinskiy and request him to speak with me on the
direct line. I hope
that there is a misunderstanding here.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin


---


NOTE TO Y. M. SVERDLOV

February 20/7, 1918

Comrade Sverdlov!

The petitioner — comrade
Bogrova, who in 1905 was secretary
of the Soviet of Workers' Deputies. I spoke with you about how you could help her
1.

Your Lenin


---


NOTE VIA DIRECT LINE TO REVEL
TO Y. Y. ANVELT

[February 22, 1918]

First question: what are the latest data in military
intelligence? 2) Second: what measures have been taken to strengthen
the guard
of your border from the west? 3) Third: how are the much-esteemed
barons feeling, what has become of them? 4)
Fourth: what, in your opinion, should the Council of People's Commissars
undertake with regard to the barons in order to demonstrate
such external benevolence, this demonstration not
weakening in any way
the force of repressions against the
said barons???

Lenin


---


TELEGRAM TO THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SOVIET OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES,
THE UNION OF PRINTERS, SYTIN

[February 25, 1918]

Immediately evacuate the greatest possible quantity
of rotary machines, linotype machines and everything necessary
for printing materials, all equipment, roll paper.
Everything that is possible. 
The printing press — our strongest
weapon. Evacuate to Nizhny Novgorod
2.

Lenin


---


ORDER TO THE VOLOGDA SOVIET

February 26/13, 1918

To the Soviet of Workers', Soldiers'
and Peasants' Deputies of Vologda

I ask
that you render every assistance
to the representatives
and members of the American embassy, who wish to establish themselves
temporarily
in Vologda
1.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)


---


TELEGRAM TO THE PENZA SOVIET OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES,
ITS DEPARTMENTS AND COMMISSARS

[March 6, 1918]

Penza, Soviet of People's Deputies and Commissars

For strict
fulfillment
we propose to the Soviet, all its
departments
and
commissars render every active assistance to the Expedition for the Procurement of State Papers, 
especially in the placement of workers arriving from Petrograd and supplying them with food and everything necessary. 
We propose to you immediately to issue an order to all hospitals and clinics of Penza to cease 
admission of the wounded, sick and to notify the appropriate agencies thereof, since the clinics of Penza are intended for institutions evacuated from Petrograd
1.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)


---


NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

March 21, 1918

Comrade Chicherin

The petitioner — Comrade
Morris Leiteisen
2, personally known to me,
a Bolshevik, would like to have the opportunity to go (having arranged, for example, at our mission in an appropriate
position) to Italy for propaganda work abroad. I would very much ask
that you inform him and help him if the opportunity presents itself.


---


STATEMENT AT A MEETING OF THE PRESIDIUM
OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY
ON THE QUESTION OF LABOR CONSCRIPTION

March 27, 1918

One cannot introduce labor discipline by decree. 
Preparatory work is necessary. The norms of labor discipline
should be entrusted to practical experts to work out, and their implementation
should be entrusted to trade unions. The trade unions themselves
will hardly be able to work out the norms.
Perhaps it is necessary to have groups of the best*
inspectors
not from the given trade, since trade unions will inevitably proceed from the interests of the trade. As for
measures to combat violations of labor discipline, dismissal without notice is insufficient; a series of other measures is necessary — about these measures one must ask practical experts, engineers, foremen.
For implementing labor conscription, which we will apply to the wealthy, it is necessary to work out a form of workbook for each wealthy person.


---


ORDER TO N. I. MURALOV

March 31/13, 1918

Comrade Muralov

I propose that you take measures to ensure that from the Ryabushinsky
2 printshop a printing machine, requisitioned for the Expedition for the Procurement of State Papers
3, is released.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)


---


LETTER TO T. I. POPOV

April 1, 1918

Comrade T. I. Popov,
Manager of the Moscow Office
of the State Bank

I ask you to take note that the safekeeping of the gold reserve rests entirely on your responsibility and all communications on matters pertaining thereto must be conducted by you
directly with me or with Comrade Gukovsky
2, and the communication of any information whatsoever to other institutions and persons is absolutely forbidden.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)


---


NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

April 1, 1918

Comrade
Chicherin

I enclose a telegram. In my opinion, it is necessary to answer immediately:
We will immediately make inquiries;
we are confident that your information is erroneous, etc., etc.
And speak with Petersburg by
telephone
immediately.

Lenin


---


NOTE TO P. P. MALINOVSKY

April 1, 1918

Comrade Malinovsky!

Be so kind as to speak with the petitioner, Comrade Gorbunov,
secretary of the Council of People's Commissars,
about a certain building plan
2.

Greetings!
Lenin


---


NOTE TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY

April 6, 1918

Comrade Dzerzhinsky

I entrust you with the immediate arrest (search and seize all papers as well)
of Spiro, delegate from the Black Sea Central Fleet and from the Tauride
Central Executive Committee, on the charge of official crime.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)


---


NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

April 10

Comrade Chicherin

The petitioner, Comrade
Bogrova
1, was in 1905 a member of the Soviet
of Workers' Deputies, personally well known to me. It is extremely
necessary for her to leave as soon as possible for Switzerland for an
operation (the illness is extremely severe and not susceptible to treatment by local surgeons). Is it not possible to include her in the composition of the Swiss embassy? Consider this, please, and either telephone me or we can speak at our next meeting.

Lenin


---


NOTE TO T. I. POPOV

April 10, 1918

Comrade T. I. Popov

The petitioner, Comrade Bogrova, who in 1905 was a member of the
Soviet of Workers' Deputies, is personally known to me. 
In view of an extremely grave illness requiring an operation in Switzerland, she needs to make a speedy journey there. But her money is in a safe. Is it not possible to consider her petition about this more quickly? Is there an established
procedure for considering such petitions? Please telephone me your answer.

Lenin


---


NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

April 10, 1918

Comrade Chicherin

Comrade Rivlina
1 (on behalf of herself and Comrade Pokrovskaya
2) would very much like to leave soon
for Switzerland. She thinks of traveling with the embassy. Consider, please, how this can be done, and is it not possible
to obtain from Germany the right of passage
at least for women
(to Switzerland) in general.

Lenin


---


APPEAL TO THE LATVIAN RIFLEMEN

[April 1918, not earlier than 13]

I ask Comrade Latvians to take all measures for disciplined
guard.

Lenin


---


NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

[April 27, 1918]

And what answer did you give Mirbach to his written inquiry?


---


EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH I. E. GUKOVSKY

[April 1918]

To Gukovsky

1) Did you have a meeting of the financial commission of the Central Executive Committee today?

2) What are the voting results? 
(a) in general
(b) on Roze's theses?

(c) on Zemit's?

3) Zemit is being invited to the Commissariat
of Public Education to work. 
Should not we take him 
more firmly 
into the Commissariat of
Finance?

In my opinion, we should. 
(The Commissariat of Finance is weak in working forces — weak, truly weak; we need to strengthen it; otherwise
you will not have the right to complain afterwards about a lack of forces.)

Was there at the meeting: 
Comrade Roze,
Comrade Zemit and Comrade Trutovsky.
In the majority my
[theses] were adopted
they did not vote
the same
He is working with us.
I just spoke about this
with Comrade Sverdlov and
would like to speak with you.


---


TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH I. V. STALIN

[May 2, 1918]

I — Stalin

Serious events are taking place in Ukraine. On 4/28 during a meeting of the Rada, a German
lieutenant with German units, by order of Eichhorn,
occupied the Rada's premises, interrupted the meeting, arrested some of the ministers,
and placed Grushevsky under house arrest. The reason: heated debates during the meeting about Eichhorn's order,
which forbids assemblies and rallies and places the Council of People's Ministers under control. Besides this, the disarming of several Ukrainian regiments, which was the subject of debates
and protests, expressed in demands that the German government recall the German generals. The next day the Rada did not meet, although
some of the arrested ministers were released. But the congress of landowners, calling themselves farmers, which declared war on socialists and the Rada,
held its meeting completely freely, having expelled the democratic delegates from its midst, who were arrested by the Germans the same day.
Such are the information, absolutely accurate and verified; they are taken from the "Kiev
Thought"
2. There is information so far unverified, that a new bourgeois-landlord power
has been formed under the name of the Hetmanate. From this it follows, among other things, that the peace conference will not yet have the
opportunity, if it ever has the opportunity, to be constructed. Another, no less important, event: the Germans
have occupied Feodosia,
and Ukrainian units have been withdrawn by them from Simferopol further north,
beyond Perekop. This means that the Germans want to keep the Crimea for themselves, in order
to throw a bridge across the Kerch Strait, to make their way to Persia and Mesopotamia via the Black Sea railway line and the Transcaucasian one, through Kars
and so on — that is, the very thing that one time the imperialist Rohrbach
3 timidly dreamed of.
This is already a second reason, suggesting, like the first, that the purported peace conference will be postponed. Our
parliamentary envoy is making his way or has already made his way to Vorozhba
4. I am awaiting information from him every minute. Depending on this information, it is possible that tomorrow I will leave for Moscow.

Did you receive a radiogram from the Ukrainian peace delegation from Vorozhba to the effect that the delegation is
designating Nezhin as the place of negotiations, and did you give any answer on your part?

Lenin

S t a l i n: Chicherin transmitted it to us by telephone, who gave the Ukrainians an answer in the sense of their invitation to Kursk in these words: "Our
delegation awaits you in Kursk." We did not receive the radiogram directly ourselves, perhaps because the Kursk station is lame in both legs. We sent our answer with the parliamentary envoy in the sense of inviting the Ukrainians
to Kursk, where, according to the statement of the Ukrainian courier, lines have been laid and everything is prepared for the meeting. In our statement we avoid the question of Nezhin, and, between us be it said, obviously,
we will not make a fuss over the Nezhin question. We have just been informed that General Skoropadsky has been appointed hetman of Ukraine, but this information has not yet been verified. Incidentally: do you not think
that the new Ukrainian power, at the first opportunity, will not fail to [declare] war on us to restore order and tranquility under a strictly, absolutely strict, neutrality of Germany?

L e n i n: I too have no doubt that you will not make a fuss over Nezhin, but in my opinion, this idea ought to be
expressed in your answer to the Ukrainians as well. Draw up a new
telegram
with an inquiry both to the German government and to
the new Hetmanate power. Send us this telegram here by direct line, and we will send it by direct line to
Berlin. Besides, it would be useful to confirm the order to all units standing on the borders about the formal proposal
to halt military operations, and then speak
with Rostov about strengthening the defense both of Rostov and of
the Kerch Strait. I think, in general, that given your lack of means of communication with the Ukrainian government, you should speak twice a day through Moscow with Berlin, hinting in a very polite form
that Eichhorn
5 is a more stable quantity than the Ukrainian government.

We, both present here
6, believe that Berlin should receive telegrams from the Commissariat of
Foreign Affairs, not from the peace delegation. We believe, moreover, that orders to the fronts should be given not by us,
but by the Supreme Military Council. We, for our part, have done everything within our power and have actually created an atmosphere of armistice on the Kursk and Bryansk fronts. There is no communication with Rostov. We intend to send a person to Rostov with appropriate directives. Did you receive yesterday's tape of ours, taken by Karahan
7, concerning our conversation with Antonov?

No, I did not receive it. I will try right now to find Chicherin
and Trotsky so as to speak with them, and I hope that in about three hours
I will send you a note. That is all for now. Lenin

S t a l i n: One more moment. Find Karahan and demand the tape, which he promised to transmit to you. The content of the tape: Antonov requests in categorical form that you issue an order with regard to the Soviets, especially the Voronezh Soviet, to set up a border guard with white flags, which would disarm all detachments crossing its border. If this is done, Antonov undertakes officially to remove the powers of Commander-in-Chief from himself and to recognize the war with Ukraine as liquidated. I believe that this would significantly accelerate the matter of peace. Rakovskiy and
I asked Karahan to transmit this demand of Antonov where it belongs
and to satisfy it. That is the content of the tape. Stalin

L e n i n: Good. I will right now make all inquiries. Lenin

S t a l i n: I press your hand, I await. Goodbye.


---


INSTRUCTION TO A SECRETARY

[May 1918, not earlier than 4]

No. 313

1. We report that the general assembly of members of the Simbirsk Chuvash National Society, with the participation of representatives of district executive committees of Chuvashes, has expressed itself against the candidacy of Yakovlev for the post of chairman of the Chuvash Seminary. The candidacy of Yakovlev has not been removed by the Commissariat of Education. 
In the elections of the pedagogical council
the chairman post was won by Afanasyev. Yakovlev remained chairman of the women's courses of the seminary. The elections were approved. Documents were sent by mail 5617. Chairman of Simbirsk Provincial Soviet of People's Deputies M. Gimov.

I ask V. D.
2 to undertake the execution of this.


---


TELEGRAM TO G. E. ZINOVIEV

[May 11, 1918]

Petrograd,
Zinoviev

We are doing everything possible
1. I have just received a telegram from Ufa:
"Tomorrow we will begin urgent loading. By regular train we will send twenty thousand poods of flour and rye
to Moscow and Moscow province, the same quantity to Petrograd, Petrograd province. In total forty thousand.
Chairman Eltsin".

Lenin


---


NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

May 14, 1918

Comrade Chicherin!

I recommend to you entirely
the petitioner, Comrade
Kinkel
2. Treat him with complete confidence and listen to him
in detail.

Greetings! Lenin


---


TELEGRAM TO YEKATERINBURG
TO THE REGIONAL SOVIET OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES

[May 21, 1918]

I earnestly ask that you help in every way and in all respects my good comrades,
who have rendered me great services:
Citizen Hildur Haikonen
1. Address — Metropol Hotel,
Yekaterinburg, her brother
Alexander Haikonen,
her comrades Paul Palmfeldt, Anne Ovan and Henry Petersen. Inform me
how and in what way you have helped them.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin


---


EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH L. A. FOTIEVA

[May 22, 1918]

Will the protocols of the Small Council be approved today?

No.
( *In yesterday's there is one about appropriation to the Samara Supreme Council of the National Economy of 1 million rubles.
\ The Samarite is going around and waiting for a decision. Perhaps
this item should be considered?

Pravdin
2
or
Petrovsky
3 should take the floor to
order it.


---


NOTE TO L. D. TROTSKY

May 24, 1918

Comrade Trotsky

The petitioner, Comrade
Ter-Gabrielyan,
is going to
Baku
with a military detachment, with money, etc. I ask that you receive him without waiting in line and make use of the detachment's journey for
urgent
measures of military
aid
to the Bakunites
2.

Lenin


---


EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH L. D. TROTSKY

[May 1918, before 29]

German-Austrian troops in Ukraine — 500,000
Pure German — 350,000

There is a treaty of Krasnov with the Germans:
1) general strategic leadership of the Germans
2) union of Don, Kuban, Ural and Siberian Cossackdom
3) Germany supplies weapons and instructors on the same
basis as Ukraine

Where did these reports come from?

"When" will the offensive take place?

This is Odintsov — a general, military expert of the peace delegation,
brought it. This intelligence costs 12,045 rubles. He says he saw the text of the treaty.
The Germans do not give troops, and they give officers and non-commissioned officers (25 and 10 marks per day on full board). The offensive, apparently, is already considered to have begun.

1) How can this be?
2) Is it unclear?
3) Should not Chicherin send a written note to
Mirbach with an
exposition
of Mirbach's statement that the Germans
have not come to an agreement with Krasnov.

4) And is it not from "patriotism," is it not from a desire to
"make war"
that this appeared
to Odintsov?

It seems to me that Odintsov's information fully accords with the logic of things:
the refusal of a demarcation line on the Don, a rosy-cheeked delegation in
Kiev, etc.
Being unable to move their forces, the Germans want to submerge us with a Cossack uprising on the Don, Kuban, Lower Volga, Urals and Siberia.
I consider it necessary to publish this report in the press, and then
communicate it by radio to Ioffe as the voice of the press.

Really?? But as for Ioffe
3 and other matters.
We must consult with Chicherin.

Do you not know that the Germans refused to tie their own hands regarding the Don Republic?! This is worse than forgetting about the...* Soviet
Constitution.

I am sending this correspondence of ours to Chicherin.


---


NOTE TO A. A. IOFFE

May 31, 1918

Comrade Ioffe!

The petitioner — Comrade
Valentina
Bogrova
1, who in 1905 was secretary of the Petrograd Soviet of People's Deputies. Please help her
to remain in Berlin for a serious operation by one
of the famous specialists there. I sent you today (and to Zagorsky)
2 another
little letter
3.
I hope you received it.

Greetings! Your Lenin


---


NOTE TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

[1918, not earlier than late May]

In my opinion,
you should immediately, for tomorrow's
newspaper, issue an arch-alarmist
report: bloc of the English +
French + Czechs + Whites with the Japanese.
Threat of the Japanese, etc.


---


EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH G. V. CHICHERIN

[May—June 1918]

Lockhart received two more telegrams about two ships in Arkhangelsk
2.
Unwillingness to take the goods sent to us and needed by us and to pay for them with goods we have in abundance will bear a clearly hostile character
to England.
In my opinion, we must agree.
Tomorrow the commission (in the morning) with Nevsky, Rykov, Trotsky
3.
You
must
come
there and
achieve results
personally. Only if unsatisfied — formally declare to me or the Council of People's Commissars.


---


LETTER TO HENRI GUILBEAUX

[June 2, 1918]

Comrade Guilbeaux

Dear Comrade! I hope that you will not judge me too harshly. I am very busy. That is why I have too little time, and I will limit myself to greeting you and ask you to write to me sometimes a few lines. A thousand greetings!

Your Lenin


---


NOTE TO L. A. FOTIEVA

[June 3, 1918]

If you and Gorbunov chatter away at the meeting, I will put both of you in the corner.


---


EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH S. M. TER-GABRIELYAN

[June 1918, not earlier than 6]

Most Esteemed Vladimir Ilyich!

I implore you, order the Centroarmor to load the Baku detachment tomorrow without fail,
otherwise I will be powerless to do anything for its immediate departure.

Ter-Gabrielyan

Why did you not appeal to me earlier? Did you call? What is
Centroarmor?
What is its telephone number?

Centroarmor — an organization that has at its disposal all armored automobiles. Telephone — no. Address: Znamenka, No. 5, Dolgorukov mansion.
My telephone: 5.29.00. — room 436.


---


NOTES TO V. I. NEVSKY

[June 12, 1918]

Why and how did it happen that Gorbunov does not work with you?
Why did you not formally secure his position?

It is necessary to formally move this matter: formally
request Gorbunov
2.
Formally appeal his
refusal.
(Otherwise
you will go to prison for inactivity of authority).


---


NOTE TO A. G. PRAVDIN

[June 12, 1918]

We are sending you (with a mandate from the Commissariat of
Internal Affairs and with my signature over and above that)
to the provinces: 
Tula
Orel
Voronezh and others
for the restoration of order.
You must leave tomorrow evening.
Before that
you must speak (tomorrow morning) with Sverdlov (about the Tula Soviet of People's Deputies and Panyushkin)
2,
with me (about the same, and about food and military
tasks) with Trotsky
with Tzurup

with Nevsky.


---


TELEGRAM TO I. V. STALIN
OR A. G. SHLYAPNIKOV

[June 13, 1918]

Telegram to Tsaritsyn.
To Stalin or Shlyapnikov

It is extremely important that you leave without the slightest delay
for Novorossiysk,
in order
to ensure that the fleet carries out the government's orders. A series of telegrams on this have already been sent
to Novorossiysk. If the government's orders are not carried out by the fleet without the slightest delay, then German offensive and the taking of Novorossiysk by the Germans is inevitable — such is the exact and definite German ultimatum.

Apply all efforts to accomplish the journey to Novorossiysk and ensure the execution of the orders
2.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin


---


EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH L. D. TROTSKY

[June 1918, not earlier than 15]

In my opinion, it is necessary to draw up a report for the press. The role of the
Georgian government: they rejected the Brest peace and are repeating Ukraine.

Who is this Kvirkeliya?

I do not know. Perhaps the report is inaccurate?

I am afraid it is accurate.


---


RESOLUTION
ON A TELEGRAM FROM THE POVENETS DISTRICT CONGRESS OF SOVIETS

[June 16, 1918]

Moscow, Council of People's Commissars

The Povenets regular district Congress of
Soviets sends its greetings and wishes of success
to the fighters for the poorest peasantry, the proletariat
and the better future of all mankind. — Chairman of the Congress Bogoslovsky.

To the press bureau.


---


TELEGRAM TO I. V. STALIN

[June 17, 1918]

To Stalin

The orders sent to the fleet in Novorossiysk must be
absolutely carried out.
It is necessary to declare that for their non-execution the sailors
will be declared outlaws. It is necessary by any means to prevent this senseless adventure.
Why
did not Shlyapnikov go
2? 
Why did
Vakhrameyev
leave without doing
anything? 
Where is Raskolnikov
4? 
An influential comrade must absolutely go in order to deal with those who resist. The promise that Ioffe
5 gave to Kühlmann

on our behalf must absolutely be executed!

Lenin

Published according to the manuscript handwritten by G. V. Chicherin

1 The telegram was prompted by the continuing vacillations of the command of the Black Sea Fleet in executing the government's order to sink ships at Novorossiysk (see the present collection, p. 88).

2 Apparently V. I. Lenin did not yet know that A. G. Shlyapnikov had departed for Ekaterinodar following the telegram of June 13, 1918 (see the present collection, p. 88).

3 I. I. Vakhrameyev, member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat for Naval Affairs, in accordance with a decree of the Supreme Military Council confirmed by the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, departed for Novorossiysk with the instruction: "upon arrival, if he does not receive a cancellation of the order by that time, to proceed with the destruction of all vessels located in this port" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

4 F. F. Raskolnikov — Deputy Commissar for Naval Affairs, member of the Revolutionary War Council of the Republic.

5 A. A. Ioffe — Plenipotentiary Representative of the RSFSR in Berlin, headed the Soviet delegation for peace and economic negotiations with Germany.

6 Richard Kühlmann — from August 1917 to July 1918 — State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Germany.

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH G. V. CHICHERIN

[June 27, 1918]

To me Ritzler orally communicated a telegram from the German government: they would not wish to introduce their troops onto Russian territory, but at the same time they expect that Russia with respect to Murman will fulfill its contractual obligations.

(DECEMBER) — 1918

We have been postponing issuing a note of protest against England regarding Murman. Now we shall have to issue * a note.

Of course, and AT ONCE.

Can you receive the Turkish envoy tomorrow afternoon?

I am not feeling well. Is it not possible to excuse myself? If it is absolutely impossible, we can telephone each other tomorrow at 12 o'clock or arrange for 2 o'clock.

1 Kurt (Rüdorfer) Ritzler at this time — acting German diplomatic representative.

2 On June 27, 1918, the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs addressed a protest to the British diplomatic representative in Moscow, Lockhart, against the landing of forces at Murmansk (see "Documents on the Foreign Policy of the USSR," vol. 1, 1957, pp. 376–377).

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH G. V. CHICHERIN

[June 29, 1918]

In Larin's materials there are questions of the utmost importance and absolutely requiring immediate resolution. It is necessary to convene a small conference tomorrow for their discussion. Would 4 o'clock or 5 o'clock be possible? It will also be necessary to determine the norms of the ambassador's competence. Ioffe on his own initiative signed a protocol on prisoners of war, where he renounced such things to which the Germans here have already agreed.

From whom?

Necessarily you, Vronsky, Gukovsky, perhaps also Trotsky.

Agreed. Let us set it for 5.

Remind me. Call at 4 o'clock

1 The correspondence took place at a session of the Council of People's Commissars on June 29, 1918, when G. V. Chicherin raised the question of a protest by the Soviet delegation in the mixed commission on prisoners of war against the protocol signed by A. A. Ioffe on its resignation, with a request to resume the commission's work in connection with a proposal by the German ambassador Mirbach on this matter.

2 Yu. Larin (M. A. Lurye) in 1918 — head of the Committee for Economic Policy of the Supreme Economic Council.

3 M. G. Vronsky after the October Revolution — Deputy Commissar for Trade and Industry.

* Underlining belongs to V. I. Lenin.

LENIN COLLECTION

INSTRUCTIONS TO L. B. KAMENEV, L. A. FOTIEVA, A. I. SVIDERSKII

[June 1918]

1) To Kamenev. Read, report to the Soviet of People's Deputies, scold and hurry along the dispatch of workers.

2) To Lidia Aleksandrovna. Pass it on to Zinovyev. He will arrive Sunday morning.

3) To Sviderskii. Take emergency measures for the dispatch of workers.

1 This concerns the dispatch of workers to food requisition detachments.

2 L. B. Kamenev — at this time chairman of the Moscow Soviet.

3 A. I. Sviderskii — member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat for Food.

NOTE TO A. D. TSYURUPA

[End of June 1918]

To Tsyurupa

Danilov is located between Vologda and Yaroslavl, that is, a point of exceptional importance.

Will you provide it?

1 This concerns food assistance to the town of Danilov. This point had important strategic significance when at the end of June 1918 the English occupied Murmansk. In response to V. I. Lenin's note, A. D. Tsyurupa replied: "We will provide it from the first receipt."

CONVERSATION BY DIRECT WIRE

with V. L. PANYUSHKIN

[Beginning of July 1918]

Note to Comrade Lenin. Urgently in accordance with your order I must depart for the front. Upon arrival in Novosil for the cavalry regiment I found complete chaos on the spot, which is intensified by the provincial executive committee, disorganizing the work of commissions of the Internal Affairs Administration on the ground. In my telegram to Comrade Dzerzhinsky, with a copy to you, I pointed to the necessity of personally detaining certain responsible officials of the province and districts, creating a situation in the province that is menacing, similar to spring 1918. The commission of the Revolutionary Internal Affairs Committee is being called to Tula, with the suggestion that it cease all investigation. In case of non-compliance it is to be detained and transferred to Tula. They are demanding that the arrested be sent there as well: the former chairman of the executive committee and the Central Executive Committee*, pointing to the necessity of tribunal review. For my part, I request you, to avoid impending events in the province, to issue an order for the continuation of the commission's work and the dispatch of those arrested by it to Moscow, not to Tula. As an old communist, I point out to you the necessity of this and take responsibility for this communication to you; otherwise the provincial executive committee will suppress everything as before. With me at the apparatus are the head of the provincial department of justice and a member of the commission of the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs, to whom I have proposed to approach the apparatus with me, not carrying out the provincial executive committee's order until your answer on this question. Urgently departing for the front. I request you give us an answer right now, which is necessary for the work of the commission and for representatives of the provincial executive committee. If you should require a precise enumeration of the provincial executive committee's and district executive committee's actions, I will send it urgently by special messenger to you in Moscow. Awaiting your answer at the apparatus. I repeat, the situation is very serious.

Panyushkin

Novosiль

To Panyushkin in Novosiль. Details of what you are reporting should be sent in writing. There is no point in tying up the telegraph line for an extended period. I will speak today with Dzerzhinsky and also with whom it is appropriate. Before the conversation with him I cannot give any answer. I remind you once more that your principal task is to advance to the Eastern Front as quickly as possible. Not the slightest delay is permissible.

Lenin

What should the commission and representatives of the provincial executive committee do, who are requesting to make the same communication to you on this matter very briefly. The assigned duties I am carrying out urgently. We will be on time.

Panyushkin

I repeat that before a conversation with the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs I cannot give any answer. It would be far more useful to send a precise telegram signed by members of the commission to Dzerzhinsky's address, a copy to me, than to tie up the direct wire.

Lenin

Published according to the typewritten text

1 V. L. Panyushkin in April 1918 was appointed extraordinary military commissar in Tula Province for combating counterrevolution; commanded armed workers and sailor detachments, was on the Eastern Front, was then appointed extraordinary military commissar of the Volga region and Urals for combating counterrevolution.

2 See V. I. Lenin. Collected Works, vol. 50, p. 109.

* Apparently should be read: "Cheka."

LENIN COLLECTION

NOTE TO B. M. ELTSYN

[July 3, 1918]

1) From the three points of the introduction, strike out the first and the last.

2) Abandon all thoughts about strengthening the dictatorship of the proletariat.

3) Propose no changes to the constitution.

4) Shift the center of gravity on this question at the congress to precise and complete study of the actual state of affairs.

1 V. I. Lenin's note arrived at the Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism at the CC CPSU from A. D. Tsyurupa with his notation: "Note to Eltsyn" and numerical calculations.

It was not possible to establish what document is referred to in V. I. Lenin's note.

B. M. Eltsyn — chairman of the Ufa Provincial Executive Committee.

NOTE TO N. K. KRUPSKAYA

June 6, 1918

To N. K. Ulyanova

Receive and hear out the bearer, Comrade Goltzman, who is recommending a valuable, according to his words, pedagogical specialist — a Pole in Switzerland.

Lenin

1 N. K. Krupskaya — at this time member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat for Education.

2 A. Z. Goltzman — member of the Bolshevik Party from April 1917. After the October Revolution — worker in the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions. From 1917 to 1920 — member of the CC of the Union of Metalworkers.

3 Apparently this concerns V. K. Taratute, who from 1909 was in emigration and returned to Russia in 1919.

(DECEMBER) — 1918

TELEGRAM TO V. P. ANTONOV-SARATOVSKII

[July 12, 1918]

Saratov

To Antonov

I will forward your telegram to Trotsky. I have already once telegraphed to Ivanov, traveling to Baku, and I repeat once more that if he is needed in Saratov, then he must especially help the people of Saratov, if the need is extreme, if our troops are surrounded.

Let Ivanov give me an answer.

Lenin

1 V. P. Antonov-Saratovskii — chairman of the Saratov Provincial Executive Committee.

2 V. G. Ivanov (Caucasian) — in 1917–1918 — member of the Tiflis committee of the party, executive committee of the regional Soviet of the Caucasian Army, presidium of the eastern part of the Central Naval Fleet, commander of a military mobile detachment of the Moscow Military District. Until 1921 he was on the fronts of the civil war.

3 V. I. Lenin telegraphed V. G. Ivanov on July 7, 1918 about permission to depart for Baku on the condition of a favorable situation in Volsk. By this time a counterrevolutionary mutiny of Left Socialist-Revolutionaries had been suppressed there.

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

[July 18, 1918]

To Chicherin

The question you posed (today in writing), in my opinion, is resolved simply and unconditionally: yes (a political agreement à la Ioffe must be concluded, without surrendering Estonia, Livonia, and Georgia, but registering their occupation by Germany).

Have you sent an encoded dispatch to Ioffe regarding Murman?

1 The note is connected with questions caused by new demands and certain complications in relations with the German government and the occupation of Murmansk by Entente troops. On July 18, 1918, V. I. Lenin heard a report from G. V. Chicherin on the first question.

LENIN COLLECTION

TELEGRAM TO G. N. KAMINSKII

[July 22, 1918]

Tula

To Comrade Chairman of the Tula Provincial Executive Committee

Kaminskii

Copy to Panyushkin

Panyushkin must immediately explain to me his actions and attempts to free Agapov.

Let Panyushkin go to Moscow.

Agapov must remain under arrest. The provincial executive committee must urgently submit to me a copy of the report on his case.

Both Kaminskii and Panyushkin must notify me immediately of execution.

If Panyushkin proves guilty of disorganization, he will be strictly punished.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

1 V. I. Lenin's telegram was prompted by a report from G. N. Kaminskii about illegal actions of the commissar of the detachment of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions and extraordinary military commissar of Tula Province V. L. Panyushkin, expressed in his attempt, using the forces of his detachment, to free S. K. Agapov, commander of the garrison, arrested by the commissar of justice and the provincial military commissar for misappropriation of state funds (see D. M. Oskin. Notes to Military Commissars, 1931, pp. 82–90).

ORDER TO N. P. GORBUNOV

[July 25, 1918]

To Gorbunov

Do not forget to invite her tomorrow.

1 The order is written on a telegram from A. A. Ioffe to V. I. Lenin reporting the arrival in Moscow of Gerta Gordon (Wälcher), a veteran of the German labor movement, member since 1915 of the group "International" (later "Spartacus League"). Ioffe reported that Gordon was recommended by Clara Zetkin and asks Lenin to receive her, rendering every assistance.

(DECEMBER) — 1918

2 On July 26, 1918, V. I. Lenin received Gordon, and on the same day wrote a letter to C. Zetkin in response to a letter from Clara Zetkin brought by Gordon from June 27, 1918 (see V. I. Lenin. Collected Works, vol. 50, pp. 127–128).

NOTE TO THE KREMLIN COMMANDANT

P. D. MALKOV

July 25, 1918

Comrade Malkov!

Give Comrade Gorbunov the opportunity to inspect the Great Nikolaevsky Palace and other Kremlin premises.

Lenin

1 The inspection of Kremlin premises was connected with the placement of government institutions after the move from Petrograd. With this V. I. Lenin appealed to the Kremlin commandant in the first months of 1918 after March 12 more than once.

TELEGRAM TO V. P. NOGIN

[August 1, 1918]

Saratov

To Nogin

Today more than two workers are being sent. Exert all efforts to arrange the matter. I will give orders regarding literature.

Lenin

1 V. I. Lenin's telegram is a response to a telegram from V. P. Nogin of August 1, 1918 from Saratov reporting the difficult situation in the city and province in connection with the Czechoslovak mutiny, kulak uprisings, poor organizational and propaganda work among the population, especially the peasantry, the necessity to send from the Center one or two workers for party work and those knowledgeable in newspaper affairs, as well as to send "Pravda," "Izvestiya," "Bedota," and newspapers in Tatar and other local languages.

2 V. P. Nogin — Deputy Commissar of Labor, member of the presidium of the Supreme Economic Council.

LENIN COLLECTION

NOTES TO A. D. TSYURUPA

[August 3, 1918]

To Tsyurupa

They say that 1) Sverdlov's brother takes it upon himself in 7 days to deliver to Moscow tens of thousands of poods of potatoes (at a price lower than the usual Moscow price) and that the formalism of the Food Commissariat is hindering this. 2) that representatives of the Soviets of People's Deputies are requesting, to combat hunger, permission to bring grain, with strict adherence to all rules and plans of the Food Commissariat and that formalism, etc.

1 This correspondence with A. D. Tsyurupa was conducted during a session of the Council of People's Commissars on August 3, 1918 in connection with the discussion of draft decrees worked out by the People's Commissariat for Food in accordance with V. I. Lenin's theses on attracting workers' organizations to grain procurement.

In his responses to Lenin, Tsyurupa wrote that the Food Commissariat does not regulate the matter of potato procurement and that formalism cannot have a place here, and on the question of grain transport and procurement proposes to grant independence to the Soviets of the starving provinces, with which all food workers agree.

2 V. M. Sverdlov in 1918 — commissar of the operational administration of the People's Commissariat of Railways.

TELEGRAM TO THE TULA EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSION

August 11, 1918

Tula

To the Extraordinary Commission

Copy to the Commissar of Labor Pyurnyaynen* for workers

Immediately send a detailed report on the reasons for your arrest of Kislyakov. If in secret, then send it with a special messenger.

You were obliged, without waiting for my request, to send me an explanation as soon as you learned of the protest of the provincial executive committee and of complaints from workers. Inform of execution by telegraph.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

* Note: The reference is to P. P. Pyurnyaynen.

(DECEMBER) — 1918

1 V. I. Lenin's inquiry was prompted by telegrams from the Tula Provincial Executive Committee and workers of the "Socialist" mechanical plant protesting against the illegal decision of the Tula Extraordinary Commission to arrest the head of the provincial department of the Supreme Economic Council E. N. Kislyakov, who was the victim of slander by bourgeois elements. Secretary of the Labor Department of Factory Committees P. P. Pyurnyaynen on August 13, 1918 telegraphed V. I. Lenin to the effect that E. N. Kislyakov had not been arrested, that he along with the head of the Labor Department Arsenyev is being sent to Moscow with a detailed report to V. I. Lenin on the affairs of the Tula Supreme Economic Council and to clarify his case.

LETTER TO FRITZ PLATTEN

August 14, 1918

To Comrade Fritz Platten

Dear Comrade Platten!

Of course, it would be very good if you visited us once more. They say that the Swiss atmosphere has a bad influence on you (this atmosphere is too petty-bourgeois, too "calm," too "friendly") — I allow myself to hope that our atmosphere might have a different effect.

Farewell

Your Lenin

P.S. All counterrevolutionary forces have gathered against us. Kulak uprisings are raging. But I hope and am confident that we will crush them.

Published according to the text of the journal "Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Geschichte" 1968, No. 1, translation from German. Published in Russian for the first time.

1 The letter was sent by special courier together with a letter to Ya. A. Berzin (see V. I. Lenin. Collected Works, vol. 50, p. 150).

LENIN COLLECTION

NOTES TO A. K. PAYKES

[August 15, 1918]

To Comrade Paykes — try to influence them, otherwise they will exclude or remove you, since the Council of People's Commissars has sent for you.

To Paykes

I will have to raise the question here now, because such is the decision just adopted.

Lander is doing such stupidities and insolences that everyone's patience is wearing thin, and I cannot find even one argument in his favor.

You take the floor.

1 A. K. Paykes at this time was a member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of State Control.

The notes were written at a session of the Council of People's Commissars on August 15, 1918 in connection with the review of a conflict between Commissar of State Control K. I. Lander and member of the collegium of this commissariat A. V. Galkin and K. I. Lander's refusal to come to a session of the Council of People's Commissars for explanation.

TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FINANCES

[August 20, 1918]

To the Commissariat of Finances

To Comrade Krestinsky

I request you to consider this statement and report to me tomorrow, August 21, 1918, the conclusion of the Commissar of Finances.

1 The resolution is written on a statement by A. L. Shaternikova — widow of a zemstvo physician who perished during the fight against an epidemic of typhus fever. A. L. Shaternikova asked for help in obtaining money stored in a safe of the Moscow Bank, received by her from the zemstvo for the education of her children after her husband's death, and a loan belonging to her father.

On the statement there is a review by V. M. Bonch-Bruevich of the Shaternikovs as revolutionary workers, people completely destitute, known to her since youth, and a notation by N. K. Krupskaya: "Address of Shaternikova: Higher Women's Courses. I join the request of Vera Mikhailovna Bonch-Bruevich. N. K. Ulyanova."

2 N. N. Krestinsky — People's Commissar of Finances.

NOTE TO L. D. TROTSKY

[August 1918, not before the 20th]

Comrade Trotsky!

Think about this.

Would it not be expedient to appoint Vatsetis as Supreme Commander-in-Chief?

Lenin

1 The note is written on a report from military commissar A. I. Yegorov about the necessity of immediate unification of the management of combat operations of troops in one person's hands, about the appointment of a Supreme Commander-in-Chief answerable to the Council of People's Commissars, and the formation of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

2 I. I. Vatsetis — colonel of the old army. After the October Revolution went over to the side of Soviet power. Participated in suppressing the Left Socialist-Revolutionary mutiny in Moscow as commander of the Latvian Rifle Division. Subsequently was commander of the Eastern Front, and from September 1918 to July 1919 — Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the RSFSR.

NOTE TO G. I. PETROVSKY

[Between August 21 and 28, 1918]

To Petrovsky

Ispolatov complains that they want to arrest him wrongly. You, they say, know what it's about.

1 G. I. Petrovsky — People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the RSFSR.

2 N. N. Ispolatov — chairman of the Usman Soviet of Tambov Province.

3 To this note by V. I. Lenin there is a response from G. I. Petrovsky to the effect that he does not know the substance of the matter, but has information characterizing the behavior of N. N. Ispolatov negatively, and he has requested materials of the charges.

On the back of the note with a notation of the address of N. N. Ispolatov, who was in Moscow at that time, are the following notes by V. I. Lenin: "Ispolatov. Room 25. Speak with Petrovsky." (Lenin circled the last phrase).

LENIN COLLECTION

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH L. A. FOTIEVA

[August 23, 1918]

I asked permission from Tsyurupa to report to you that he had two fits today and that he cannot make a report. He did not permit it, so do not give me away.

Not... reasonable was it to ask him for permission. Call Sviderskii or Bryukhanov.

1 The correspondence took place at a session of the Council of People's Commissars on August 23, 1918.

2 A. D. Tsyurupa suffered from hunger fainting spells due to undernourishment.

3 N. P. Bryukhanov — Deputy People's Commissar for Food.

NOTE TO A. I. RYKOV

[August 1918, not later than the 27th]

Why give separate authority (to the Turkestan Expedition for Irrigation) to nearly forty persons?

Individually they have no right to do this.

It is necessary to give a general [authority].

1 This concerns the issue of authority to members of the Turkestan Expedition for Irrigation. A. I. Rykov in his note to V. I. Lenin reports the desire of expedition participants to have authority for each individually in case they disperse to different places in Turkestan, and alongside this proposes to give general authority.

RESOLUTION ON TELEGRAM FROM ZEMLYANIK OF TAMBOV PROVINCE

[August 1918, not before the 28th]

Moscow, Central Executive Committee, To LENIN. The Seventh Company of the First Workers and Peasants Socialist Regiment, volunteers from Usman District, standing in the forward trenches guarding the revolution, is deeply outraged and protests against the charges brought and the removal of a staunch fighter for the proletariat and the gains of the October Revolution, Chairman of the Usman Soviet Ispolatov. Curses to those who have betrayed and sold out an honest old communist, who desired only the good of the poorest peasants and workers.

Chairman of the Committee Mokeev,
Company Commander Chisityakov

Forward by telegraph to the Tambov Provincial Committee and request explanation.

1 See the present collection, p. 101; Lenin Collection XVIII, pp. 187–188; XXXV, p. 34; and V. I. Lenin. Collected Works, vol. 50, pp. 160–161.

NOTE TO N. P. BRYUKHANOV

[August 1918, not later than the 28th]

To Bryukhanov

Your conclusion?

Should this not be brought before the Council of People's Commissars?

Or will you carry this through by order to the Food Commissariat?

Lenin

1 V. I. Lenin requests the opinion of Deputy Commissar for Food N. P. Bryukhanov on a report concerning the results of an investigation of the conduct of potato procurement work. In his response, Bryukhanov reports that in the majority of cases the orders of the Food Commissariat coincide with the proposals of the report and are used in many respects. On August 28, 1918, this question was considered at a session of the Council of People's Commissars.

LENIN COLLECTION

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH L. B. KAMENEV

[August 1918]

I am for not giving them a separate newspaper, but trying to incorporate them (as a department) into the peasant newspaper.

Mitrofanov (from Sereda) was at a meeting with them and refused to take them under his wing.

Yes, I heard, but I do not think that the statement of Mitrofanov alone would be decisive.

1 The correspondence apparently took place at one of the sessions of the Council of People's Commissars. The discussion concerns the publication of an independent newspaper by the People's Commissariat of Agriculture.

2 A. K. Mitrofanov worked in the People's Commissariat of Agriculture from August 7, 1918.

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

September 23, 1918

Comrade Chicherin!

I am sending you back the documents. You did not write the purpose of their dispatch: if the purpose is to consult, I have nothing against it. I have not seen Stalin and have not spoken with him.

Your Lenin

1 What documents these are has not been established.

2 On September 22, 1918, I. V. Stalin departed for Tsaritsyn.

RESOLUTION ON TELEGRAM FROM COMMANDER OF MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS OF THE EASTERN FRONT KATIN

[September 1918, not before the 28th]

Inform Trotsky

I propose to institute an investigation and to shoot those guilty of negligence.

| September 28 the enemy could have blown up the bridge!!! |

Lenin

1 The telegram concerns the explosion by the enemy of a bridge across the Volga in Simbirsk. Commander of Military Communications of the Eastern Front Katin requested technical assistance from Moscow for the restoration of the bridge. On the telegram there is a note by Secretary of the Council of People's Commissars A. P. Kizas of L. D. Trotsky's response to the effect that such an order was made three days ago.

INSTRUCTION TO SECRETARY

[September 30, 1918]

Forward to Chicherin:

It is necessary to send a strict reprimand to 1) Muklevich for negligence: he should have arrested them; 2) to Petrograd to Zorin: how dare they issue documents without Moscow. 3) Institute an investigation against Zorin and Co.

Lenin

1 The instruction is written on a telegram from special border commissar R. A. Muklevich to People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs G. V. Chicherin to the effect that diplomatic couriers traveling through St. Toroshino to Pskov are abusing documents issued by the foreign department in Petrograd, using them for speculative purposes to transport gold, silver, manufactured goods, rubber, and private items under the guise of embassy inventory and diplomatic correspondence. On the telegram there is a note from Chicherin's secretary reporting his response to the effect that he will speak by telephone with Petrograd.

2 S. Zorin — chairman of the revolutionary tribunal.

NOTE TO B. S. VEYSBRОД

Dear Comrade Veysbrод!

I send the warmest greetings and wishes for you to rest well and to "help" the Europeans well!

October 15, 1918

Your Lenin

1 B. S. Veysbrод — physician who treated V. I. Lenin.

2 What is being referred to has not been established.

* Typo; the reference is to R. A. Muklevich.

LENIN COLLECTION

TELEGRAM TO L. D. TROTSKY

[October 23, 1918]

Stalin arrived today and brought news of three major victories of our forces near Tsaritsyn; one victory 10 versts from Tsaritsyn, another — the destruction of 4 enemy regiments by the steppe army at Svetly Yar, which, it turns out, was requested by the Tsaritsyn people, and a third — near Muzga, where 4 enemy regiments were also destroyed.

Stalin has convinced Voroshilov and Minin, whom he considers very valuable and irreplaceable workers, not to leave and to render full obedience to orders from the Center; the only reason for their discontent, according to him, is extreme delay and the non-delivery of shells and cartridges, from which also the two-hundred-thousand-strong and excellently-disposed Caucasian army is perishing.

Stalin very much would like to work on the Southern Front; he expresses great concern that people little acquainted with this front will make mistakes, examples of which he cites in numerous instances.

Stalin hopes that in his work he will be able to convince of the correctness of his view, and does not present an ultimatum regarding the removal of Sytin and Mekhonoshin, agreeing to work together with them in the Revolutionary War Council of the Southern Front, also expressing the desire to be a member of the Supreme Revolutionary War Council of the Republic.

Communicating to you, Lev Davidovich, all these declarations of Stalin, I request you to think them over and answer, first, whether you are willing to explain personally with Stalin, for which purpose he agrees to come, and second, whether you consider it possible, on known concrete conditions, to eliminate former friction and arrange joint work, which Stalin so desires.

As for me, I believe that it is necessary to exert all efforts to arrange joint work with Stalin.

1 The present telegram from V. I. Lenin was prompted by great concern for the state of affairs on the Southern Front. By a decision of the Revolutionary War Council of the Republic from September 17, 1918, I. V. Stalin, S. K. Minin, Front Commander P. P. Sytin, and Front Commander's Assistant K. E. Voroshilov were appointed to the Revolutionary War Council of the Front. Later K. A. Mekhonoshin was also introduced into the Revolutionary War Council of the front. Sharp disagreements arose from the very beginning between Stalin, Minin, and Voroshilov, on the one hand, and Sytin and Mekhonoshin, on the other. Their essence consisted in the unwillingness of the Tsaritsyn workers to take into account the party line on the use of old military specialists in the building of the Red Army, in attempts to introduce collective management of troops, which the party had rejected.

On October 2, the Central Committee of the RCP(b) discussed the question of subordination of all party workers to the decisions of central organs. In connection with this, Ya. M. Sverdlov on the same day telegraphed Stalin, Voroshilov, and Minin in Tsaritsyn: "All decisions of the Revolutionary War Council are binding for Military Councils of Fronts. Without subordination there is no unified army. Without suspending execution of the decision, one can appeal it to a higher organ — the Council of People's Commissars or the Central Executive Committee, in the extreme case — the Central Committee. We earnestly propose to carry into effect the decisions of the Revolutionary War Council... There must be no conflicts" (Ya. M. Sverdlov. Selected Works, vol. 3, Moscow, 1960, p. 28).

The conflict that arose in the Revolutionary War Council had an extremely negative effect on the combat capability of the Southern Front, whose position in the autumn of 1918 was exceptionally grave. Trotsky, as chairman of the Revolutionary War Council of the Republic, instead of rapidly settling the conflict on the basis of norms of relations adopted in the party, repeatedly allowed roughness and extreme disloyalty toward the Tsaritsyn workers. In connection with this, Stalin, Minin, and Voroshilov telegraphed the Central Executive Committee and the Central Committee of the party: "The conversation with Trotsky was very brief, intentionally insulting, in logical content — incomprehensible. The conversation was cut short by Trotsky..." (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

Lenin's recommendations were not carried out by Trotsky.

To correct the situation, a new Revolutionary War Council of the Southern Front was formed consisting of Front Commander P. P. Sytin and Council members K. A. Mekhonoshin and B. V. Legran.

On October 19, I. V. Stalin departed for Moscow. After a conversation with him V. I. Lenin wrote the published telegram.

On January 1, 1919, the Central Committee of the party and the Council of Defense adopted a decision on appointing I. V. Stalin and F. E. Dzerzhinsky to a party-investigation commission to clarify the reasons for the surrender of Perm. In connection with this, I. V. Stalin departed for the Eastern Front.

2 S. K. Minin — from 1917 in leading work in Tsaritsyn. During the period of the civil war was member of the Revolutionary War Council of the 10th Army, member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs.

3 P. P. Sytin — general of the old army who went over to the side of Soviet power after the October Revolution. In 1918 was commander of the Southern Front, head of the military-administrative department of the Revolutionary War Council of the Republic.

K. A. Mekhonoshin — in 1918 member of the All-Russian collegium for the formation of the Red Army, subsequently — member of Revolutionary War Councils of the Eastern, Southern, and Caspian-Caucasus Fronts, member of the Revolutionary War Council of the Republic.

NOTE TO A. S. ENUKIDZE

November 4, 1918

Comrade Enukidze

I request you to issue a guest ticket to the bearer of this, Comrade Vorontsov, for the right to attend sessions of the VI Congress of Soviets.

Lenin

1 A. S. Enukidze in 1918–1922 — member of the Presidium and secretary of the Central Executive Committee.

2 Information about Vorontsov has not been found.

3 The VI All-Russian Congress of Soviets opened on November 6, 1918.

TELEGRAM TO I. I. VATSETIS AND L. D. TROTSKY

November 9, 1918

Kozlov Arzamas

Revolutionary War Council of the Republic

Supreme Commander Vatsetis, Chairman of Revolutionary War Council Trotsky

We propose appointing as commissar of supplies under the chief of supplies Martynov Comrade Moysey Lvovich Rukhimovich.

Sverdlov told Vatsetis about this long ago.

If this has not been carried out, then why?

Lenin

1 The entire text, including the word "Rukhimovich," was written by I. V. Stalin.

M. L. Rukhimovich during the October Revolution was chairman of the Kharkov Revolutionary Committee, active participant in the civil war.

NOTE TO V. D. BONCH-BRUEVICH

[November 1918, later than the 10th]

Dear V. D.!

I am sending you the proofs and appendix II (tomorrow I will send its conclusion).

Do not forget tomorrow itself to order all proofs sent to me from the beginning of the brochure.

Greetings! Get well!

Your Lenin

1 This concerns the brochure by V. I. Lenin "The Proletarian Revolution and the Renegade Kautsky" (see V. I. Lenin. Collected Works, vol. 37, pp. 235–338).

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH E. M. SKLYANSKII

[November 1918, not later than the 26th]

Is it not possible regarding the case of Dauge's son (this son is in the military aviation school) — Dauge says that his son was falsely accused of counter-revolutionary activity and because of this (??!!) was expelled from the school — to appoint by order of the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs a commission necessarily of party and experienced people?

I have no data whatsoever, only doubts owing to bad company in which he was.

His removal from this environment, I believe, will completely cure him.

And in what bad company? with whom? when? where was he? for how long?

I do not know the details, except what his father said, and this, evidently, is only more concern about his fellow flyers. I believe that he is simply apolitical and will be a magnificent technician, if he is only given the opportunity. Previously his father's desire to keep him from aviation's dangers spoiled the relations between father and son.

1 E. M. Sklyanskii — Deputy People's Commissar for Military Affairs.

2 P. G. Dauge — one of the founders of the Latvian Social-Democratic Workers' Party, historian, publicist, doctor of medicine. In 1918 — People's Commissar of Education of Latvia, subsequently — member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat for Health of the RSFSR.

3 From August 14, 1918, there is a directive from V. I. Lenin to the school department of the Directorate of the Air Fleet about the enrollment in the Moscow School of Aviation of M. P. Dauge. Previously he had completed courses at the Moscow Higher Technical School, where he showed great interest in aviation and flying. Since the flying school admitted mainly communists, M. P. Dauge's father appealed personally to V. I. Lenin with a request to help enroll his son in the aviation school, which M. P. Dauge successfully completed and fought courageously on the fronts of the civil war (see F. I. Zharov. Exploits of Red Aviators, Moscow, 1963, pp. 24–25).

TELEGRAM TO TULA TO SUKHOPAROV

November 28, 1918

Tula Comrade Sukhoparov

Copy to Provincial Extraordinary Commission

Remit the fine immediately. Submit a copy of your complaint to the Provincial Extraordinary Commission, in accordance with the law, so that the Provincial Extraordinary Commission immediately submits its conclusion to the Council of People's Commissars.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

1 This telegram is a response to Sukhoparov's telegram of November 28, 1918 to the Council of People's Commissars with a request to suspend arrest and collection of fine before the resolution of the complaint submitted to the Council. On Sukhoparov's telegram there is a note by V. I. Lenin: "to archive. Answered 28 Nov" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

LETTER TO A. G. SHLYAPNIKOV

November 29, 1918

Dear Comrade Shlyapnikov!

I received your letter of November 21.

I receive your telegrams, it seems, all of them, and I help. Do not get nervous. It is always possible to fulfill only part of what is requested. It is impossible to travel abroad now. I deeply regret that you have fallen ill. You must be treated and treated. Prepare yourself a group of substitutes in case after all you have to leave — but try to recover and to stay longer.

Greetings! Your Lenin

December 2. Congratulations on the successes of the North-Caucasian army. Once more I request, do not get nervous. We can help you little now, but we will try to expand assistance.

Your Lenin

1 At this time A. G. Shlyapnikov was chairman of the Revolutionary War Council of the Caspian-Caucasus Front.

2 On this day V. I. Lenin did not send the letter, but informed A. G. Shlyapnikov by telegram that he is sending the letter by courier and is passing all requests to the appropriate authorities.

3 In a letter to V. I. Lenin of November 21, A. G. Shlyapnikov requested the sending to the Southern Front of 5,000 bayonets, 20 guns, and other technical means, about the necessity of energetic support in connection with a possible threat from Turkey.

4 V. I. Lenin received on December 2 information about the successful advance of the 11th (North-Caucasian) Army from a telegram of the Front commander. On the same day V. I. Lenin inquires of V. I. Nevsky what has been done regarding the request of A. G. Shlyapnikov, who insisted on the sending to Astrakhan of shunting and fast locomotives.

ORDER TO SECRETARY

[Not before December 2, 1918]

Inquire of the Main Artillery Administration. Demand a written answer from it immediately.

Lenin

1 Written on a telegram from the chairman of the Tambov Provincial Executive Committee and head of the Labor Department of the Provincial Soviet complaining of the criminal inactivity of the Main Artillery Administration regarding the Tambov Powder Plant in the use of its high-value technical and economic inventory, in improving housing conditions for workers.

In the text of the telegram the words: "Main Artillery Administration" are underlined by V. I. Lenin.

TELEGRAM TO A. G. SHLYAPNIKOV

[December 9, 1918]

Hasten your answer to my inquiries. Hasten obtaining things and the departure of my courier. Money is needed and everything else. Give the appropriate order to Schmidt. He knows where to find the courier. It is necessary for him to arrive immediately.

Shlyapnikov*.

Astrakhan

To Shlyapnikov

I have already sent you a telegram. A commission from the Supreme Economic Council has departed for Astrakhan.

We are preparing the courier in the coming days.

Lenin

1 See the present collection, p. 110.

2 Apparently, a commission from the Supreme Economic Council was sent in connection with a letter from A. G. Shlyapnikov of November 26, 1918 about the necessity of organizing the extraction and utilization of food and industrial valuables of the Astrakhan region (see Lenin Collection XXI, pp. 140–141).

* On the telegram there is a note by V. I. Lenin: "to archive."

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH L. B. KAMENEV

[December 15, 1918]

And you yourself sit down closely on the garrison: we will give you all directives and rights from the Central Committee.

Sat down. There existed 11 "cultural-educational" and "political" organizations serving the garrison. We merged them. Created a special group with Myasnikov. Report twice a week. We are reducing the soviet apparatus.

Splendid. Indeed, everything is now in the troops.

Only do not weaken!

1 The correspondence apparently took place at a session of the Council of Defense during discussion of the question of political agitation in the army and the sending of commissars to the forming divisions.

RESOLUTION ON STATEMENT OF THE TEMPORARY WORKERS' AND PEASANTS' GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE

[December 1918, later than the 18th]

To members of the Council of People's Commissars (in accordance with the text of this statement) for information.

1 This concerns a statement addressed to the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Comrade V. I. Ulyanov (Lenin), in which is expressed the request of the Temporary Workers' and Peasants' Government of Ukraine to accept a scheduled train with sugar, as an expression of the ardent desire to "unite with Soviet Russia in the very near future in a single and indivisible socialist republic." The statement says that workers and peasants of localities adjoining Soviet Russia and cleared of Haidamaks and Germans are with great joy ready to give whatever food they have to the hungry elder brother.

ORDER TO D. I. KURSKY

[December 20, 1918]

To Kursky.

I request you to immediately appoint an investigation of this case.

Lenin

1 D. I. Kursky — People's Commissar of Justice.

2 The order is written on a telegram from "the manager of the train named after V. I. Lenin" G. V. Skoldickii, sent from Butyrskaya Prison Hospital. Skoldickii explained the reason for his arrest by the fact that he, not knowing railroad regulations, placed the train at St. Arzamas on the first track. Addressing V. I. Lenin, he requests his release, restoration of justice and legality.

TELEGRAM TO V. N. YAKOVLEVA

December 20, 1918

Petrograd, Gorokhovaya, 2,

To Yakovleva

Copy: Smolny, to Zinovyev

Your arrival here is necessary immediately for central work.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

1 V. N. Yakovleva — after the October Revolution member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs and Food, manager of affairs of the Supreme Economic Council, occupied a number of other responsible posts in soviet and party work. On May 18, 1918, by a special decision of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) "on strengthening the Cheka with new comrades," V. N. Yakovleva was assigned to head the department for combating counterrevolution at the Extraordinary Commission. On transferring her to work at the Center, Ya. M. Sverdlov telegraphed twice on December 24 and 31, 1918 (see From the History of the Cheka. Collection of Documents 1917–1921, Moscow, 1958, pp. 110–117).

TELEGRAM TO PETROGRAD TO G. E. ZINOVYEV

December 26, 1918

Petrograd

Smolny

To Zinovyev

Send Sergei Dmitrievich Markov here immediately for work in the Center.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

1 S. D. Markov — from the end of the year member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Railways, from 1919 — Deputy People's Commissar of Railways. On January 1, 1919, V. I. Lenin again called S. D. Markov to Moscow (see the present collection, p. 120).

NOTE TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY

[1918]

Comrade Dzerzhinsky!

Tomorrow morning the attached documents are being published.

Would you not consider it useful to conduct arrests at night at the indicated address, that is, at the district committee? Would it perhaps be possible to find the threads and connections of counterrevolutionaries; it is especially important that here (scarcely for the first time) there is official confirmation of the connection of the shooters with the Socialist-Revolutionary Party.

Lenin

1 What documents are referred to has not been established.

YEAR 1919

NOTE TO N. P. BRYUKHANOV

[January 1 or 2, 1919]

Comrade Bryukhanov,

Could you not entrust to a knowledgeable and informed person the review of these documents, the preparation of a conclusion-inquiry, etc.?

1 N. P. Bryukhanov — Deputy People's Commissar for Food.

2 This concerns documents sent in response to a request of the Council of People's Commissars by the Gavrilov District Food Department concerning the requisition of grain from workers by a food-blocking detachment at St. Gavrilov Posad. In connection with repeated complaints received by the Council of People's Commissars from workers regarding the actions of this detachment, V. I. Lenin sent on January 12, 1919 a telegram to the Suzdal District Executive Committee demanding a strict investigation of the work of food-blocking detachments and the Extraordinary Commission in Gavrilov Posad (see Collected Works, vol. 50, p. 242).

TELEGRAM TO V. N. YAKOVLEVA

January 2, 1919

Petrograd, Gorokhovaya, 2,

To Yakovleva

I repeat the demand for your immediate departure. I censure delays. Leave a substitute, whoever you want, for example Sergeyev.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

1 See the present collection, p. 113.

ORDER TO SECRETARY

[January 2, 1919]

Ask Chubar what he wants? Let him write clearly! And what is "Gomzy"?

1 The order is written on a telegram from member of the presidium of the Supreme Economic Council V. Ya. Chubar sent to the Council of People's Commissars to V. I. Lenin. It reported illegal actions of an extraordinary plenipotentiary who had arrested two engineers of the Kulebaki Plant, for whom the union of engineers vouches.

2 "Gomzy" — State Association of Machine-Building Plants.

TELEGRAM TO THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY COUNCIL
OF THE EASTERN FRONT
[3 January 1919]

To Commander of the 5th Army, Bugulma,
Arkhangelsk, Revolutionary Military Council of the Eastern Front

Urgently ascertain the whereabouts of the families of responsible Soviet workers: Tsyurupa, Bryukhanov, Eltsin, Yuryev, Dudkin, Arkhangelsky. Provide them with necessary assistance if required. Report in detail immediately upon ascertaining. The wives and sisters of the aforementioned persons were declared hostages in Ufa. The White Guards threatened to deport them. The Bryukhanov family lives on Pushkin Street, 49; the Tsyurupas on Ilyinskaya, 81.

A.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin*

Printed from a telegraph form

1 The telegram was sent in connection with the fact that on 31 December 1918, units of the Red Army liberated the city of Ufa from interventionists and White Guards, where the families of responsible Soviet workers were located. In a reply telegram from Ufa, Smirnov, member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the 5th Army of the Eastern Front, reported that the families of Bryukhanov and Podvoysky were in Ufa, alive and unharmed. Information regarding the others is being sought; upon receipt of such information, additional notice will be provided.

* The telegram was also signed by V. I. Nevsky, People's Commissar of Transportation.


1919 YEAR


NOTE TO N. P. BRYUKHANOV
[3–4 January 1919]

I have already told Schlichter that this is absolutely unacceptable. He wishes to become the Ukrainian People's Commissar of Food Supply: I said that this is admissible only in the case of non-interference with our work. Discuss this.

1 The note was written on a telegram from the Chairman of the Provisional Workers' and Peasants' Government of Ukraine G. L. Pyatakov, which raised the question of directing A. G. Schlichter to work in Ukraine in connection with his appointment as head of the Land Department. A. G. Schlichter worked during this period as plenipotentiary of the People's Commissariat of Food Supply of the RSFSR for grain procurement in Ukraine. Initially, Lenin considered it inexpedient to release Schlichter from the People's Commissariat of Food Supply for permanent work in Ukraine (see present collection, p. 123). However, attaching great importance to organizing food supply matters in regions being liberated from Denikinists, V. I. Lenin, when the question arose that Schlichter was to head the People's Commissariat of Food Supply of Ukraine, urgently demanded his speedy departure to his new place of work (see Complete Collected Works, vol. 50, p. 200).


ORDER TO THE SECRETARY
[11 January 1919]

Send to Chicherin: has it been used for printing?


TELEGRAM
Copy
Moscow, Metropol, to Chicherin,
copy to Foreign Ministry
4/1 — 10 hour, 12 minutes, Dvinsk

The newspaper of the Soldiers' Soviet of the German 10th Army publishes an excerpt from one of the Berlin newspapers containing an order from the British Admiralty to the German fleet. Here it is: 1) all vessels under red flags must be sunk without warning, 2) vessels without officers are to be treated according to wartime laws, 3) upon capture of a naval officer engaged in Bolshevik propaganda, the entire crew of the given vessel is to be shot by sentence of a naval court. Goppner.

I await reports and a response from Chicherin.

LENIN COLLECTION

1 G. V. Chicherin—People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR.
Regarding the order from the British Admiralty to the German fleet, which is the subject of the correspondence from Dvinsk, it was written about in the newspaper "Izvestia of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee" No. [?] of 4 January 1919, in the article "They Fear the Red Flag."


TELEGRAM TO G. E. ZINOVIEV
6.1 [1919]
Petrograd
Smolny
Zinoviev

Immediately send Markov to Moscow. This is my final decision, which I ask be carried out immediately.

Lenin

1 See present collection, p. 114.


TELEGRAM TO I. V. STALIN AND F. E. DZERZHINSKY
11/1–1919

Glazov. To Stalin and Dzerzhinsky

Regarding your assumptions about changes, report immediately; if necessary, use cipher. Send a courier. We consider it extremely important that both of you remain until the complete settlement of all affairs. This is absolutely necessary.

Lenin*

Printed from a telegraph form

1 Party Central Committee members I. V. Stalin and F. E. Dzerzhinsky were members of the Party-Investigation Commission, established on 1 January 1919 by decision of the Party Central Committee and the Council of Defense to investigate the causes of the surrender of Perm.

* The telegram was also signed by Ya. M. Sverdlov.

YEAR

In response to the published telegram, on 13 January 1919, I. V. Stalin and F. E. Dzerzhinsky sent a "Brief Preliminary Report on the Progress of the Investigation into the Causes of the Surrender of Perm" and reported on measures planned by the commission to restore the situation on the 3rd Army sector of the Eastern Front. In a telegram of 14 January 1919, V. I. Lenin wrote: "I earnestly request that both of you personally direct the implementation of the planned measures on the spot, for otherwise there is no guarantee of success" (Complete Collected Works, vol. 50, p. 243).


NOTE TO V. I. NEVSKY
AND UNDERLINING ON THE TELEGRAM
OF V. N. KSANDROV

[1919, January, no later than 12]

To Nevsky:

It is necessary to keep Ksandrov in Simbirsk until the complete success of 180 cars per day.

TELEGRAM

Moscow,
People's Commissariat of Transportation,
To Nevsky,
copy to Council of Defense to Lenin,
copy to Pavlovich

Having worked out a precise plan for the immediate organization of shipments of 180 cars per day from Bugulma, during the time of preparatory work departed to inspect the bridges in Syzran. On the tenth I inspected the bridge work and certify that work is being conducted with full energy and successfully. With confidence I can assert that by 15 April the bridge will be ready. The second route across ice was completed today; tomorrow it will be opened for crossing.

The Commission on the question of the direction of the Surgut-loading—Nurlat line voted in favor of the Surgut-loading direction. I share the opinion of the commission. However, in view of the successful progress of work on restoring the bridge near Syzran, the question arises: is it necessary to build this line at all? I consider it necessary to add that the line laid on snow and frozen ground during the season of mud will not be usable. Therefore, I consider it correct at the present moment to limit ourselves to the transportation of laying materials on the line. A depot every five versts, so that in case of need it will be easy to begin laying. I request approval of the Surgut-loading direction and the limitation at the present moment of construction work to the transportation of laying materials.

Tomorrow I will inspect the tunnel work; in the evening I will depart to Simbirsk on grain transportation matters.—Ksandrov.

1 V. I. Nevsky—People's Commissar of Transportation.
V. N. Ksandrov—member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Transportation, was during this period in Simbirsk on matters of transporting grain to the center on the Volga-Bugulma railway.


ASSIGNMENT TO E. M. SKLYANSKY AND K. I. LANDER

[13–14 January 1919]

To Sklyansky and Lander:
Organize immediately the strictest investigation. Report to me on its execution.

Lenin

1 O. M. Sklyansky—Deputy People's Commissar for Military Affairs and Deputy Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic.
K. I. Lander—People's Commissar of State Control of the RSFSR.

2 V. I. Lenin wrote the published document on a telegram from Astrakhan addressed to the People's Commissariat of Food Supply, which reported a gross violation of the procedures for procuring acutely scarce food products by a plenipotentiary of the supply department of the Southern Front and the inadmissible methods of work employed.


TELEGRAM TO THE TAMBOV DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

16.1.1919

Tambov
District Executive Committee
To the Chairman of the Commune Commission
Mikhailov

From your explanation I conclude that Azanchevskaya agrees to be transferred to social welfare, where everything will be arranged for her. If she agrees, I have no objection to the transfer. If she does not agree, please telegram me.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

1 S. V. Azanchevskaya, who worked in the People's Commissariat of Education, on 1 January 1919 received a certificate signed by V. I. Lenin stating that she was traveling to Tambov Province with a request to Soviet organizations to assist in arranging and providing food for her sick sister and mother. Later, on 9 September 1920, V. I. Lenin sent a letter to Tambov to A. G. Schlichter, Chairman of the Provincial Executive Committee, with a request to assist in providing food for E. N. and A. V. Azanchevsky living there (see Complete Collected Works, vol. 50, p. 234; vol. 51, p. 278 and present collection, p. 238). Which of them the transfer to social welfare refers to has not been established. S. V. Azanchevskaya continued to work in Moscow thereafter.


NOTE TO N. P. BRYUKHANOV

[19 January 1919]

To Bryukhanov:

Where is Schlichter? In my opinion, don't "give" him away, but keep him in Ukraine.

1 Written on a telegram from Kharkov from G. L. Pyatakov, which set forth an urgent request for the release of A. G. Schlichter to Ukraine to head the Food Department. On this question see also present collection, p. 119.


RESOLUTION ON THE STATEMENT OF PLENIPOTENTIARIES
FOR FOOD PROCUREMENT

I consider Bryukhanov's answer correct. Those dissatisfied may, of course, appeal it to the Council of People's Commissars. I will add that on the Volga-Bugulma railway a specially appointed plenipotentiary is working with all his might to bring the export (there are millions of puds there) to 160 cars per day.

21/1 [1919]

Lenin

1 Authorized representatives of organizations located in Simbirsk for the procurement of non-standard products sent V. I. Lenin a report on 18 January 1919, in which they offered their services for organizing the export of grain and other food products to the People's Commissariat of Food Supply from the regions of Simbirsk and Bugulma. For this purpose they requested locomotives and cars be placed at their disposal, and asked that 20% of the procured and dispatched products be allocated to the organizations that sent them, in order to alleviate the severe food situation in the central regions. V. I. Lenin wrote on the report: "Please contact Bryukhanov: this is necessary above all. 20/1. Lenin" (Central Party Archive, Institute of Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the CPSU).

LENIN COLLECTION

N. P. Bryukhanov replied with a refusal to such a proposal, noting that the People's Commissariat of Food Supply had taken all necessary measures for the export of grain and other products procured by food organizations from the Volga-Bugulma railway district, and that he considered it inadmissible to provide trains to individual organizations, and the payment of 20% for services in work that the People's Commissariat of Food Supply does and is obliged to do was incorrect and violated the general plans for supplying food to the population.


NOTE TO G. I. PETROVSKY

[23 January 1919]

To Petrovsky:

I request that you appoint an audit by agreement with Bryukhanov.

1 G. I. Petrovsky—People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the RSFSR.

2 V. I. Lenin wrote the published note after receiving a telegram signed by A. Blinov requesting an order for the return of grain seized by a requisition detachment at Gavrilov Posad Station. In the telegram A. Blinov reported that he and other workers, from whom grain was seized along with him, were transporting it for their families in connection with extreme need for food.


NOTE TO G. I. PETROVSKY

To Petrovsky:

I request that you appoint an audit.

24/1 [1919]

Lenin

I also request that you publish (and distribute as a circular-bulletin to the volosts) regarding the bringing to trial of Dukhovshchikov.

Lenin

3 The peasants of Andreyevskaya Volost of Kostroma Province, [?] district, appealed to V. I. Lenin with a complaint regarding illegal actions of volost Soviet workers and requested a strict investigation. In addition to the instructions given to G. I. Petrovsky on this matter, on 25 January 1919, a telegram was sent through the Council of People's Commissars to the Kostroma Provincial Executive Committee demanding that an investigation be conducted on the peasants' complaint.


NOTE TO E. M. SKLYANSKY

[24 January 1919]

To Sklyansky

For opinion urgently (in my view, Gaya should go to Chelyabinsk).

1 V. I. Lenin wrote the published note on a telegram from G. D. Gaya, commander of the 1st Army of the Eastern Front. The latter raised the question of the necessity of reorganizing the Turkestan Army and cleansing Turkestan of counter-revolutionary elements, and also made a proposal to entrust the 1st Army with liberating Baku from interventionists and White Guards. G. D. Gaya was not sent to Chelyabinsk. Chelyabinsk was liberated from the Kolchakites on 24 July 1919 by units of the 5th Army of the Eastern Front.


TELEGRAM TO G. E. ZINOVIEV

25.1.1919

Petrograd
Smolny
Zinoviev

I request you to summon Mikhail Veniaminovich Kobetsky, Vasilievsky Island, 6th Line, 43, Apartment 12. Help him obtain a foreign passport and clarify his political orientation. Previously he was a Bolshevik, and I saw him in Copenhagen. If he has remained a Bolshevik, wire me; I will give instructions.

Lenin

1 After the October Socialist Revolution, M. V. Kobetsky worked in responsible Party, Soviet, and diplomatic positions.

LENIN COLLECTION


TELEGRAM TO VORONEZH

[27–28 January 1919]

Voronezh
Revolutionary Military Council,
to Rozengoltz.
To the Chairman of the Provincial Executive Committee
Kartashov.
To the Rector of Voronezh University (copies to
Moscow, People's Commissariat of Education,
Pokrovsky. People's Commissariat of Military Affairs, Sklyansky)

The Council of Defense, in reversal of the decision of Stalin's commission on the evacuation of the University building from the hospital and other institutions located in it, instructs a commission consisting of Rozengoltz, Kartashov, and the rector of the University to investigate the question of the possibility of locating the hospital and other military units and institutions situated in the University in other premises. In the absence of other suitable premises, investigate the possibility of the University making space and locating the hospital in its building as well.
Report the commission's conclusion by telegram*.

Chairman of the Council of Defense
Lenin

Printed from a telegraph form


NOTE TO N. P. BRYUKHANOV

[4 February 1919]

To Bryukhanov:

Is this in addition to the thousands which you sent to Tashkent? or contrary to your order?

1 The note was written on a telegram from Orenburg reporting that in one day five scheduled trains from the Tashkent railway sent 180,000 puds of grain. In response to V. I. Lenin's question, N. P. Bryukhanov answered: "I think that—contrary. Tomorrow I will try to check." The correspondence, as can be seen from the documents, was conducted during a session of the Council of People's Commissars on 4 February 1919.

* The last phrase beginning with "Report" was written in V. I. Lenin's hand.


ASSIGNMENT TO D. I. KURSKY

[4 February 1919]

To Kursky:

I request that you appoint an investigation and report the result to me.

1 The assignment to D. I. Kursky, People's Commissar of Justice of the RSFSR, was written by V. I. Lenin on a telegram from Velizhan, Vitebsk Province, from the brother of an arrested and imprisoned former commander of a Red Army detachment, Fyodor Demyanov. The latter, through his brother, appealed to V. I. Lenin for help, as he believed he was serving a sentence based on false denunciations against him.


TELEGRAM TO THE VOLOGDA
EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSION

10.II.1919

Vologda
ChK, copy to the Provincial Executive Committee

I have received a petition from the children of Mikhailov, a sick man brought from the Severodvinskaya hospital. They request his release. Report your conclusion.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

1 P. I. Mikhailov was held in detention on charges of counter-revolutionary activity. The Krasnogorskoye Extraordinary Commission (Severo-Dvinsky Province) decided to shoot Mikhailov as an enemy of Soviet power. Following Mikhailov's children's appeal to V. I. Lenin for his release, his case was referred to the Special Division of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission. The latter found insufficient grounds in the charges presented to it and transferred the case for consideration by the Revolutionary Tribunal of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. On 17 March 1919, Mikhailov was released from custody and his case was closed.


NOTE TO A. N. VINOKUROV AND E. M. SKLYANSKY

[10 February 1919]

To Comrade Vinokurov and Sklyansky

If possible, I would request that you render assistance.

Lenin

1 A. N. Vinokurov—People's Commissar of Social Welfare.

2 This concerns rendering assistance to the family of S. D. Kornilyeva from Penza. She appealed with a letter to V. I. Lenin in which she wrote that after the death of her husband M. M. Kornilyev, who had been exiled to Penza under police surveillance, she remained with four children without any means of subsistence and was in an extremely difficult material situation. In the letter she also asked for help in obtaining a certificate for her son, who at that time was serving in the ranks of the Red Army at the front.


LETTER TO E. K. TARGON-OKRENT*

14.II.1919

To Elizaveta Targon-Okrent

Most esteemed Elizaveta (I apologize, I do not know your patronymic)
Targon-Okrent!

I apologize for not having replied to your first letter—I do not remember whether I received it. I did receive the second one; I sent an inquiry to Zinoviev in Petrograd. I fear you are mistaken when you write that Dobrovolsky is not a hostage. I fear that he is a hostage, and then it is unlikely that anything can be done. 

But I have nevertheless asked the Petrograd people to consider whether he cannot be released on bail.

Please accept my assurance of respect and devotion

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

* The address on the letter envelope was written in V. I. Lenin's hand:

"Moscow. To the Higher Military Inspectorate of Comrade Podvoysky. Employee in the Inspectorate Comrade Okrent (for Elizaveta Okrent). Sender—Lenin. Moscow. Kremlin."

1 In her letter, E. K. Targon-Okrent requested that V. I. Lenin secure the release of her relative, Central Committee member of the Cadet Party V. I. Dobrovolsky, who had been arrested by the Petrograd Extraordinary Commission. She cited the fact that he was ill and had long since withdrawn from political activity. On 14 February, in a letter to G. E. Zinoviev, V. I. Lenin, having set forth her arguments, raised the question of the possibility of releasing Dobrovolsky on bail (see Complete Collected Works, vol. 50, pp. 255–256).

Dobrovolsky's case was transferred from the Petrograd ChK for consideration by the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission. In March 1919 a decision was made to place him in a concentration camp until the end of the Civil War on charges of counter-revolution.


ASSIGNMENT TO THE SECRETARY

[18 February 1919]

To Peters: by telephone

Please inform me what the matter is and whether the case will go to tribunal.

1 Written on a telegram received from A. V. Belyavskaya, who appealed to V. I. Lenin with an appeal on behalf of her son V. Belyavsky, arrested by the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission organs, and requested that he be given the opportunity to defend himself before the Revolutionary Tribunal.

Ya. Kh. Peters, Chairman of the Revolutionary Tribunal and Deputy Chairman of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission, on the same day, 18 February, in a telephonogram to V. I. Lenin reported that V. Belyavsky was a bitter enemy of Soviet power, one of the leaders of a White Guard organization that sent White officers across the front line, accused in the case of the All-Russian Monarchist Union. For crimes committed he deserved the highest punishment, which was applied to him on 15 February 1919.

Lenin placed a note on the telephonogram: "to archive."


ORDERS TO E. M. SKLYANSKY
AND V. N. PODBELSKY

AND NOTE ON A TELEGRAM

19 February 1919

To Sklyansky: Forbid this game with telegrams.

20 February 1919

To Sklyansky: Forbid this game with telegrams. What is the point of this?

20 February 1919

To Podbelsky: Forbid such collective telegrams.

1 V. N. Podbelsky—People's Commissar of Posts and Telegraphs of the RSFSR.

2 V. I. Lenin gave the order to E. M. Sklyansky upon receiving, on 19 February 1919, a telegram from the head of communications of L. D. Trotsky's train, sent to a large number of recipients, about the departure of Trotsky's train from one point to another.

On 20 February, a similar telegram was received reporting that Trotsky's train had departed for the next station. Like the first telegram, it was addressed to a whole series of recipients. On the margins of this telegram, V. I. Lenin crossed out the listed addresses, placed three exclamation marks, made a note: "What is the point of this?" and wrote the published order.

On the same day another telegram of the same character was received. Lenin wrote an order to V. N. Podbelsky on it.

The order to E. M. Sklyansky and V. N. Podbelsky to cease sending telegrams about the progress of Trotsky's train "to 100 addresses" was given by Lenin on 11 February 1919 (see Complete Collected Works, vol. 50, p. 253). However, it was necessary to repeat the order once more to put an end to such practice.


NOTE TO K. I. LANDER

[19 or 20 February 1919]

To Lander:

Controllers are abusing telegrams. Restrain them.

1 The telegram of State Control auditor N. V. Terziov, who was conducting an audit in Oryol Province, was addressed to two recipients—People's Commissar of State Control K. I. Lander and the Council of Defense to V. I. Lenin.

From the content of the telegram it is clear that there was no necessity to send such a telegram to two addresses. It listed the names of institutions and enterprises where the audit was being conducted, reported that reports had been sent and were being printed in part, and that the controller was departing for Kursk Province.

* —Nota bene! —Note well!


YEAR


NOTE TO N. P. BRYUKHANOV
AND UNDERLININGS ON THE TELEGRAM OF THE BOARD
OF MALTSEV DISTRICT

[20 February 1919]

To Bryukhanov:

Have you managed to do something? And exactly what?

Moscow, Council of People's Commissars, to Lenin
Received 20/II

TELEGRAM

Moscow, Presidium of the Supreme Council of the National Economy, Chemical Department, Metal Department, Main Glass, copy to Maltsev Board, People's Commissariat of Food Supply, Council of People's Commissars, Lenin

The already extremely insufficient food supply to the Maltsev district has completely ceased. The insignificant reserves of garden produce of our own harvest from last year have been consumed due to the absence of imported products. There are no non-standard products in the district whatsoever. The specter of starvation hangs over the workers. The workers are exhausted to the extreme. During work they faint at the machine, at the vat during the pouring of molten cast iron in their hands. There have been cases of death at the factory from work. Deaths from starvation, apart from epidemics, are increasing. Under such conditions, it is impossible to live further, let alone work. In order to preserve the lives of the workers and precious fuel, we earnestly request that you send to the Maltsev district from real reserves of standard and non-standard products in the amount of a full state ration, if only for one month while we complete our quotas. The absence of comradely support from the center will inevitably provoke a wave of hunger uprisings. Factories and plants will not be able to continue work. The workers of the Maltsev district have valiantly endured and brought themselves to complete exhaustion, up to this time remaining at their machines and working. The board is faced with a dilemma—close the factory or supply food. Urgently discuss the situation. Report by telegram on the decisions taken.

Government Board of Maltsev District, Dynin

1 In response to V. I. Lenin's inquiry on the same day, 20 February 1919, N. P. Bryukhanov reported that the Maltsev factories had been offered to direct their prepared scheduled trains to Ukraine, and A. G. Schlichter had been instructed to fill these trains with grain.

On the document V. I. Lenin later made a note: "in archive."


NOTE TO N. P. BRYUKHANOV

[26 February 1919]

To Bryukhanov:

Can you help and to what extent?

1 Written on a letter from the head of the Department of Labor of the Moscow Provincial Executive Committee, in which he wrote of the extremely severe food situation of the workers of the Glukhov Manufactory of Bogorodsky District of Moscow Province and the adoption of urgent measures to save the workers from starvation. The letter noted that during February the workers received wheat flour—1 pound, vegetable oil—3/4 pound, salt—34 pounds, sugar—3/4 pound, millet—1/4 pound, and bread per day—1/2 pound. On the basis of undernourishment, epidemic diseases began among the workers.


NOTE TO E. STANG

To Comrade Stang

The Presidium requests that Comrade Stang take part in today's meeting as the fifth member of the Presidium.

F. Platten
Lenin
Albert
2/III—19
Klinger

TRANSLATION

To Comrade Stang

The Presidium requests that Comrade Stang take part in today's meeting as the fifth member of the Presidium.

F. Platten
Lenin
Albert
2/III—19
Klinger

1 Emil Stang—delegate from the Norwegian Social-Democratic Party to the First Congress of the Communist International, held in Moscow on 2–6 March 1919.

At the congress, the following were elected as permanent members of the presidium: V. I. Lenin, Max Albert (Hugo Eberlein)—delegate from the Communist Party of Germany, Fritz Platten—delegate from the Swiss Social-Democratic Party (opposition). Gustav Klinger—delegate from the Communist Party of the German colonies in Russia—was elected permanent secretary of the presidium. By decision adopted at the congress, the elected permanent presidium was to elect a fifth member from among the various national organizations for each meeting.

The note was written by V. I. Lenin in German at the first session of the congress on 2 March 1919. It was signed by all members of the presidium.


NOTE TO E. M. SKLYANSKY

[Between 3 and 15 March 1919]

To Sklyansky

I request that you try to satisfy the request and give me your opinion immediately.

Lenin

1 V. I. Lenin wrote the note to E. M. Sklyansky on a letter received from Petrograd from V. A. Desnitsky (Stroyev). In the letter, Desnitsky, on behalf of the leadership of the Third Pedagogical Institute, where he worked at that time, appealed with a request to exempt, as an exception, students of this institute from conscription into military service, considering that the institute was training teachers, of whom there was an acute shortage in the country.


ASSIGNMENT TO THE SECRETARY AND NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

[8 March 1919]

Ask Chicherin whether he has not responded to Bela Kun about the Ukrainian writer. If he has not responded, let him respond immediately.

To Chicherin

Bela Kun has informed me by today's radio telegram that he has not received a response. This means your response must be repeated.

1 Bela Kun—one of the founders and leaders of the Communist Party of Hungary. In 1919—de facto leader of the Soviet Government of Hungary; he held the posts of People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs and member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs.

Which Ukrainian writer is being referred to in the published document has not been established.


NOTE TO L. D. TROTSKY

14 March [1919]

To Trotsky:

What is this? How is this? In our rear—where is this? Disarmed Cossacks???

1 The published note was written on a telegram received from the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front. It reported that in the night of 12 March 1919, in the rear of the Southern Front in the region of the upper Don stanitsy—Veshenskaya, Kazanskaya, Migulnskaya—a counter-revolutionary uprising against Soviet power began.

This uprising was an expression of the wavering being experienced at that time by the Cossacks. Not unimportant causes of its emergence were errors committed by local organs of Soviet power: the expulsion from hamlets and stanitsy together with the counter-revolutionary part of the Cossacks and some laboring Cossacks, numerous arrests, etc. These distortions of the policy of the Party and Soviet power made it possible for the White Guard apparatus to exploit the discontent of the Cossacks for its own purposes.

V. I. Lenin carefully followed the course of operations to suppress the counter-revolutionary uprising, emphasized its danger, and gave instructions to the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic and the command of the Southern Front for its speediest liquidation (see Complete Collected Works, vol. 50, pp. 283, 289–290, 292, 314, 315–316).


NOTE TO L. B. KRASIN

[No earlier than 17 March 1919]

There is no need to be excessively hasty and begin with ultimatums: no final decisions have yet been made. It is necessary to think it over and understand it. I am not a lover of ultimatums, but when the matter of transport is given into the hands of such elementary politicians as Zhukov and Avanesov, business cannot be conducted, and this is not just my opinion.

1 N. A. Zhukov—member of the collegium of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission.
V. A. Avanesov—member of the All-Russian Commission for the Repair of Railway Transport.


SPEECH ON THE MILITARY QUESTION
AT THE VIII CONGRESS OF THE RCP(b)

21 MARCH 1919

Comrades, I have tried carefully to understand the disagreements that have emerged in the two groups, in the two different proposals of the military section, which have led to passionate speeches and to extraordinary intensification of the work of the section up to the point where a part left—a departure which, of course, is incorrect. Understanding these theses, I must first of all refute the consideration that everything is proceeding well with us. There can be no question of this. That our position is threatening now and will remain threatening further—this was said to you by Comrades Okulikov and Arallov, who work in the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic. There was no doubt whatsoever about this in the Central Committee when we made the decision that Comrade Trotsky would not be at the congress, but where the situation is dangerous. We were conscious of what damage we were dealing to the Party congress, but we said: the situation is threatening. But let us see how criticism of these shortcomings goes beyond the boundaries of permissible criticism. Here is paragraph 6 of the first part of the theses which have been proposed on behalf of Comrade Smirnov (reads).

Yes, comrades, if one rises to such pathos, if you have begun to speak of autocratic-serf orders, then there is nothing surprising that passions became so heated. Is it possible, within the bounds of a Party of communists, to speak thus? When I happened to have a conversation with Comrade Smirnov, who was telling me about the state of affairs, he complained among other things about this very statute. I have never seen this statute with my own eyes, but I spoke with comrades, and they told me: we are forced to give salute. To confess, I was frightened. I became frightened and began to ask. I began to ask comrades who work in the military ministry: how is this, tell me; is it not possible to get the statute. Here we have an enormous shortcoming—for more than a week I searched for this statute and only now have obtained it. (Applause.) And having obtained it, I read paragraph 16 (reads).

I read this point. It struck me. Since I am not only not a military specialist, but not even a military man—it struck me because I happened to encounter it practically. When I heard that this point restored autocratic-serf order in that a commander, addressing a subordinate, salutes—in my opinion, this is absolutely incorrect. Besides this point I read none of the others. If Comrade Sokolnikov says that it needs to be corrected, then there is no doubt that this is necessary; absolutely, there are particular shortcomings. But to agree, on this account, down to autocratic-serf order and the old army—well, gentlemen, if you have agreed to this, something is not right. If you write such things and at the beginning say that we are dealing with the middle peasant—you want to deal not with the middle peasant but want to pour water on the mill of the Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks. Good Lord, where would they find such suitable material—autocratic-serf order. It is clearly visible here that you have overdone things in the theses, that something is not right with you. No one denies shortcomings. No one defends the statute. Further, in the 10th paragraph we read (reads).

How can this be? It turns out that we did wrong when we formed a Council of Defense alongside the Revolutionary Military Council. Is this an accusation? After all, the Council of Defense has never, not once, interfered in operational operations—its task is to accelerate—we examine there 20–30 questions concerning the supply of the Red Army with food. And this accusation that alongside the Revolutionary Military Council exists the People's Commissariat of Military Affairs—why, he is the chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council. Here clearly the ends are not tied up properly. The backing is not right. You are not writing what you think. When Comrade Goloshchyokin spoke here, he said: the policy of the Central Committee is not being conducted by the military ministry. If you make such accusations, if you, speaking as a responsible orator at a Party congress, can make accusations against Trotsky that he is not conducting the policy of the Central Committee—this is a crazy accusation. You will not produce the slightest proof. If you prove this, neither Trotsky nor the Central Committee is any good. What kind of Party organization is this when it cannot achieve the implementation of its own policy? This is an incredible trifle. Not a single serious member of the congress thinks this.

We have had disagreements, mistakes—no one denies this. When Stalin shot people in Tsaritsyn, I thought that this was a mistake, I thought that shooting was being done incorrectly, and the documents which Comrade Voroshilov cited—they show what a mass of heroism there was in the X Army and, in particular, in the behavior of Comrade Voroshilov—our mistake was revealed. My mistake was revealed, and I had telegraphed: be careful. I made a mistake. That is in our nature—we are all human. Of course, it would have been better if they had shot Krasnov when Dybenko was signing the peace treaty in the Smolny. This was, of course, a mistake. The credit of the Tsaritsyn forces is that they uncovered this conspiracy of Alekseyev. There were disagreements between Stalin and me. Stalin proved his case, and no one will draw from this the conclusion that the policy of the Central Committee is not being conducted in the military ministry. This is an accusation that casts a great shadow over the whole military ministry and over the Central Committee. You do not want to say this, but you meant to say it. The backing here is clear to everyone. First, regarding the second part of this paragraph 10. "As a result, constant shortage..." * Do you think we do not know this? At every session of the Central Committee on every major question of strategy—there has not been a single time that there was not a session of the Central Committee or of the Central Committee Bureau—there has not been a single time when we have not decided the fundamental questions of strategy. For example, here a closed session—if the West is threatened, they move to the North, suddenly—measured—neither there nor there are there sufficient reserves.

We need to proceed from the goal of holding out the coming months, knowing that the enemy cannot hold out for long. When we are accused here that as a result of incorrect policy there is a constant shortage of reserves—this is funny and absurd. We suffer tremendously from this, but when there are no reserves, we always transfer from one front to another. There have been cases when we had to decide in the Central Committee: not a single military unit from the south, no matter what danger threatens in other places.

I must add on the question of the middle peasant.

Of course, a policy of ideological influence is necessary, but it cannot be sufficient, since the proletarian part of the army is not large. Here we need iron discipline. And if you will speak that this is autocratic-serf order and protest against the saluting of superiors by commanders, you will not get an army in which the middle peasantry will fight. Without iron discipline, without discipline implemented, by the way, by the proletariat over the middle peasantry, nothing can be done. We need to do everything to attract this middle peasantry, but to think that by setting forth theses about autocratic-serf discipline, because a commander salutes—to think of conducting business in this way of creating this army from the middle peasantry, this means to saw off the branch on which everything rests.

In any other way than iron discipline nothing can be done here. When we in § read and Comrade Safarov comments here (reads).

Comrade Safarov ridicules in this way Sokolnikov, for seeing elements of syndicalism in it. This cannot be done in an army where centralization is necessary. Here you have corrected something, but the end still remained with you. How can one accept such theses after this. Or take § 10. What was there before the correction (reads).

So, collective command.

This is absolutely astounding, a complete return to partisan warfare. They corrected it so that it was excised, but voted as before. That a minority left is not good, this is a breach of discipline which cannot be approved. But that you introduce such a point deliberately and can vote for it, can gather 37 votes for it, this is more than not good.

This is not only not good, but conceals danger. What is the matter here? What is the whole backing? The backing is that old partisan warfare lives in you, and this sounds in all the speeches of Voroshilov and Goloshchyokin. When Voroshilov spoke of the enormous achievements of the Tsaritsyn Army in the defense of Tsaritsyn, of course, Comrade Voroshilov is absolutely right, such heroism is difficult to find in history. This was truly an enormous outstanding piece of work. But Voroshilov himself, while recounting, then presented such facts which show that there were terrible traces of partisan warfare. This is an indisputable fact. Comrade Voroshilov says: we had no military specialists and we had 60,000 casualties. This is terrible. In the history of the revolutionary movement of Russia, the heroism of the Tsaritsyn Army will occupy the greatest place, but 60,000 casualties—and we managed without military specialists.

On the one hand, the 10th §, which says: military specialists with collective command, that is—meaning out with them; on the other hand—the speech of Comrade Voroshilov, who says: we managed without military specialists and we had 60,000 casualties. The heroism of the Tsaritsyn Army will enter the masses, but to say we managed without military specialists, is this a defense of the Party line? The Central Committee is guilty in that the Party line is not being conducted. Comrade Voroshilov is guilty in that he does not want to abandon this old partisan warfare. That it is connected with a historically necessary period—this is true. He says: in Ukraine we managed without specialists. That is the error of Pyatakov and Bubnov, that Pyatakov and Bubnov approve partisan warfare. We have spoken of this. We must understand that when there is an uprising for Soviet power, partisan warfare is necessary. But is it possible to transfer these conditions of a country in which an uprising for Soviet power is only taking place to our conditions? It is completely natural that it is not. And Comrade Voroshilov forgets this and completely contradicts his own theses. It is time now to abandon these remnants of partisan warfare, which were necessary in a definite period. Such declarations indicate that these comrades have not yet gotten out of partisan warfare, and the whole error of the opposition consists in that you, being bound to this partisan warfare by your experience, being bound to this partisan warfare by those traditions of heroism which will be remembered, you do not want to understand that now a different period. Now the regular army must be in the foreground; we must move to a regular army with military specialists.

When on the one hand you say in the theses—we are for military specialists—on the other—with collective command, you contradict yourselves. You speak of the fact that military specialists defect and desert. Did we not say in the draft of the program that they are imbued with bourgeois worldview and that our task is to prevent every counter-revolutionary attempt? Everyone knows this. I am surprised how you view the matter from the point of view of your provincial church bell-tower. You say: we heroically defended Tsaritsyn. This is true. But once you come out with this on the tribune and speak to the congress, you violate the whole Party line and the whole Party program, you defend old partisan warfare.

When you propose theses which are wholly directed against military specialists, you violate the whole general-Party tactics. This is the source of the disagreement. But such unfounded accusations which you advance, speaking of the establishment of autocratic-serf discipline, are no good. By the way, Goloshchyokin even said that this decay is ruining us. Well, you know, this is such a denial of bourgeois culture and technique itself that I do not know what to say. We say in the program that military specialists must be attracted, and you say they must be used. One can use them and with collective command. No, that is not so. They will govern, and we will place our people alongside them. And we know from experience that this leads to successful results. Comrade Voroshilov brought things to such monstrous statements that he destroyed the army of Okulikov. This is monstrous. Okulikov was conducting the line of the Central Committee, Okulikov reported to us that there remained partisan warfare. Okulikov proved this with objective facts. One can lay down 60,000, but from the point of view of our overall line can we permit 60,000? (Voroshilov: "But how many did we kill?"). I fully know that you killed many, but Comrade Voroshilov, therein lies the trouble, that all your attention is directed to this Tsaritsyn. In the sense of heroism this is an enormous fact, but in the sense of the Party line, in the sense of consciousness of the tasks which we have set ourselves, it is clear that we cannot permit 60,000 and that, perhaps, we would not have had to permit these 60,000 if there had been specialists there, if there had been a regular army with which one has to reckon. This is the historical transition from partisan warfare to a regular army, discussed in the Central Committee tens of times, and here they say we must cast all this aside and return to the past. Never, under no circumstances. We have lived through the period of partisan warfare. Perhaps...

# LENIN COLLECTION

...in certain places, although even in Siberia, there will still be an epoch of partisan warfare for a while, but we have already exhausted that epoch, and if they speak here of a return to partisan warfare, we say in the most decisive fashion: never and never! (Applause.)

*Printed from stenographic record*

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1 V. I. Lenin's speech on the military question at the VIII Congress of the RCP(b) was delivered on March 21, 1919 at a closed plenary session of the congress. The basic positions of the military policy of the Communist Party were worked out by V. I. Lenin and formulated by him in his report to the CC at the VIII Congress (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 38, pp. 131–150), in his speeches at the congress, in the program of the RCP(b) adopted by the congress, and were made concrete in the theses and report of the CC RCP(b) on the military question. G. Ya. Sokolnikov delivered a report at the congress on the military situation and military policy.

At the congress, the so-called "military opposition" spoke against the CC line on the military question, which included former "left communists" (V. M. Smirnov, G. I. Safarov, G. L. Pyatakov, and others), and there were also people who had no relation to oppositional groupings. V. M. Smirnov delivered a counter-report at the congress, in which he set forth the views of the "military opposition," which spoke out against the building of a regular Red Army, the introduction of iron discipline in the army, and denied the necessity of attracting old military specialists. In his report, Smirnov insisted that bourgeois military specialists should not be entrusted with command posts, but their functions should be limited to advisory ones. On the other hand, he proposed giving military commissars broader rights in the operational command of the army, which in essence led to the establishment of collegial management of troops.

He subjected to sharp criticism the new military charters, which in his opinion created privileges for the command staff. The platform of the "military opposition" to a considerable extent reflected in military policy the views of the "left communists," who in the first half of 1918 spoke out against the attraction of old specialists to the work of socialist construction, against the establishment of strict discipline in all the work of the party and state.

In connection with the large number of delegates registered to speak in the discussion, the congress decided to transfer the discussion to meetings of the military section, in which 85 delegates participated. At three sessions of the section, 23 delegates spoke. In the speeches of a whole series of congress delegates, both those who participated in the "military opposition" and those who stood on the positions of the CC, the activity of military institutions was sharply criticized, as well as the actions of L. D. Trotsky.

In the evening of March 21, the discussion of the military question was transferred to a closed plenary session of the congress. At the beginning of the session, a report on the military situation of the country was heard from S. I. Aralov, member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic. Representatives of the opposition also spoke here, defending their erroneous line. With profound substantiation of the party's line in the building of a regular, strictly disciplined army, V. I. Lenin spoke at the congress. Lenin's speech made a deep impression on the congress delegates.

At the congress, 174 delegates voted for the CC resolution, and 95 delegates voted for the "military opposition" resolution. In order to achieve a unanimous decision on the military question, the congress elected a conciliation commission, which included three representatives of the majority (G. E. Zinoviev, B. P. Pozern, and I. V. Stalin) and two from the opposition (G. I. Safarov and E. M. Yaroslavsky). The resolution on the military question worked out by the conciliation commission, based on Lenin's propositions, was unanimously adopted by the congress (with one abstention).

2 Some of the congress delegates who spoke in defense of the theses of the CC RCP(b) on military policy left the sessions of the military section during the item-by-item discussion of the theses of the "military opposition." At the section session, the opposition's theses were adopted by majority vote as the basis. Supporters of the CC RCP(b) theses demanded that the discussion be transferred to the congress plenum. This demand was rejected, which caused their departure.

3 This refers to the theses of the "military opposition" proposed by V. M. Smirnov at the session of the military section.

4 Before the congress, L. D. Trotsky had petitioned the CC to send himself and all military delegates of the congress to the front, in connection with the worsening situation on the Eastern and other fronts. Delegates from front party organizations spoke against this proposal. This question was discussed at a plenum of the CC, which recognized the participation of delegates from the front at the congress as necessary. Trotsky was permitted to leave for the front, and he did not participate in the work of the congress.

5 Here and below, the text of documents cited by V. I. Lenin in the stenographic record is not provided.

6 In paragraph six of the theses, V. M. Smirnov subjected to sharp criticism the forms of relationship between superior and subordinate introduced by the military charter (see note 7) and called them "survivals of the autocratic-serf order."

6 This refers to the "Regulation of Internal Service," approved by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on November 29, 1918.

7 In the "Regulation of Internal Service," in § 10 the following was written: "In the event of the superior addressing a subordinate not in formation during official business, the superior, with hat on, always brings his hand to it and immediately lowers it, to which the subordinate responds to him in the same way, bringing his hand to his headgear and lowering it. The same rule is observed when the subordinate addresses the superior in official business."

8 In paragraph ten of the theses, V. M. Smirnov, criticizing the activity of military institutions, wrote that along with the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic there exist a number of other central institutions—the Defense Council, the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs, and others, that there is no precise distribution of their functions and their work shows lack of coordination and parallelism.

9 In connection with the fact that there have been attempts by certain individuals and organs of the press to present the policy of the military department as the expression of the views of certain of its responsible workers, which in essence was a denial of the leading role of the party in the state, the CC RCP(b) in December 1918 adopted a special resolution. In it, in particular, it was stated: "In view of the fact that in certain circles of the party there is spreading the opinion that the policy of the military department is the product of the personal views of certain comrades or a separate group—and statements of this kind penetrate the pages of the party press—the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party considers it necessary in the most categorical form to reaffirm that which the most responsible and experienced workers in the party could not have doubted, namely, that the policy of the military department, like that of all other departments and institutions, is conducted on the exact basis of the general directives given by the party through its Central Committee and under its direct control" ("The CPSU on the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. Documents. 1917-1968." M., 1969, p. 35).

In his speech on the military question at the VIII Congress of the party, V. I. Lenin again emphasized that all major questions of military strategy were discussed and decided in the Central Committee of the RCP(b).

However, the so-called "military opposition" that spoke at the congress repeated accusations against the Central Committee, as if its policy was not being carried out in the military department. V. I. Lenin decisively rejected these absurd accusations and profoundly substantiated the thesis about the party's leading role in relation to the military department. Clearly distinguishing between the policy collectively worked out by the party on military questions and its practical implementation, V. I. Lenin emphasized at the congress that there were many shortcomings in the activity of the military department, for which Trotsky, as chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic, bore primary responsibility. In particular, he ignored the role of party organizations in the troops, treated experienced military party workers contemptuously, showed deference to old military specialists, etc.

The Central Committee systematically controlled the activity of the military department and Trotsky, who stood at its head, correcting the distortions of the party's military policy that he permitted. Thus, the first plenum of the CC after the VIII Congress of the party noted in its decision that sharp criticism from congress delegates was a "serious warning" to Trotsky. In the resolution of a subsequent meeting of the CC of the party it was stated: "indicate to Comrade Trotsky the necessity of as careful an attitude as possible toward communist workers at the front, without full comradely solidarity with whom it is impossible to carry out the CC's policy on military matters" ("History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union," vol. 3, book 2, p. 279). The CC of the party, as is known, rejected Trotsky's proposal to halt the advance against Kolchak in spring 1919 and gave a directive for a decisive advance of the forces of the Eastern Front until the complete defeat of Kolchak's army.

10 After the suppression of the mutiny of Kerensky-Krasanov, the rank-and-file Cossacks through their delegates expressed readiness to lay down arms. On November 1 (14), 1917, a Soviet delegation headed by P. E. Dybenko signed an agreement with them on cessation of struggle and arrest of the ringleaders of the mutiny. Kerensky managed to escape. Krasanov was arrested and brought to the Smolny. Having given his word not to act against Soviet power, Krasanov was set free. However, he did not keep his word and soon emerged as one of the organizers of white-guard counter-revolution on the Don.

11 In this point the speech concerns the demand of V. M. Smirnov for the introduction in the army of collective management of troops pending the creation, as he wrote, of a fully reliable command staff both militarily and politically.

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NOTE TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY
March 24, 1919

Comrade Dzerzhinsky!

Comrade V. Adoratsky is a Bolshevik whom I have known for more than 10 years. He deserves trust unconditionally.

Please be good enough to arrange for inquiries to be made and give me an answer tomorrow.

Greetings! Your Lenin

1 V. V. Adoratsky—during this period worked in the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment.

V. V. Adoratsky appealed to V. I. Lenin with a request to give permission for his wife's sisters N. M. Sapozhnikova and V. M. Sapozhnikova to move from Samara to Kazan and to provide them with the opportunity to work there in their specialty.

F. E. Dzerzhinsky gave instructions to provide N. M. and V. M. Sapozhnikov with the right of residence in Kazan, as well as that they, as people without means, are not subject to an extraordinary tax.

Having received an answer from F. E. Dzerzhinsky, V. I. Lenin made marks on his note and the letter of V. V. Adoratsky: "to archive."

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NOTE TO A. LOMOV

[Late March, 1919]

I advise you to continue negotiations and at the same time transmit all information to the CC (it is most convenient through Krestinsky, as a member of the Orgburo and Politburo).

1 A. Lomov (G. I. Oppokov)—in 1918–1921 was a member of the presidium and deputy chairman of the Supreme Council of the National Economy. He informed V. I. Lenin that a representative of the CC of the party of the right Socialist-Revolutionaries approached him with a proposal to reach an agreement with Soviet power. Lomov asked whether he should conduct these negotiations, directing the SR representative to the party CC afterwards.

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NOTE TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY

[April 8, 1919]

Telegram

Narkomputh to the CC, copy to the Chairman of the Defense Council of the Republic, Comrade Lenin. Ryazhsk, Morshansk, Syzran, Kuznetzk—to executive committees

Despite repeated categorical demands by the railroad administration to carry out the decree on labor obligation of November 3 of last year, the decision of the Defense Council of December 25 of last year, and telegrams from the Chairman of the Council of March 20 of this year No. TsMA/330 82/90, the Ryazhsk, Morshansk, Kuznetzk, and Syzran executive committees are not sending labor force for clearing of continuing snowdrifts, opening of ditches and channels for the passage of approaching spring waters and cleaning of stations from soiled snow, which puts the road in an extremely critical and hopeless position from the possible interruption of traffic due to erosion of the track and structures and the development of certain diseases.

I request the Defense Council to take action to ensure the fulfillment of the decree on labor obligation

NKOM Kudryavtsev

To Dzerzhinsky: should we not arrest one or two members of each executive committee?

1 On the document there is a note, apparently made by the secretary's hand, from which it is evident that V. I. Lenin's instruction to F. E. Dzerzhinsky was carried out and that telegrams about the arrest of those responsible were sent to the district executive committees listed in the telegram of road commissar Kudryavtsev.

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ANNOTATION ON THE TELEPHONE GRAM FROM I. KISELEV

[April, no later than 14, 1919]

I knew him (distantly) in Switzerland. He was an ardent Plekhanovist. Find out about his work from Steklov.

Kiselev asks for work, at least on the railroad, in Kharkov (he was a railroad worker there).

1 I. Kiselev, who worked during this period in the editorial office of "Izvestia VTSIK," appealed to V. I. Lenin with a request for permission to go to work in Ukraine.

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EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH L. B. KRASIN

[April 14, 1919]

Do you know this? Do you support it?

Haven't received the telegrams yet. I support it entirely.

Entrust the investigation. Report on Monday—21/IV.

1 L. B. Krasin—member of the presidium of the Supreme Council of the National Economy.

2 V. I. Lenin wrote the note being published upon receiving a telegram from the department of supply and distribution of fuel of the Council of the National Economy. The latter appealed to the Defense Council with a request to cancel the requisition of firewood carried out by the administration of the northern railroads. The firewood belonged to the power station serving the Expedition for the Preparation of State Papers and enterprises working for defense.

At the session of the Defense Council on April 21, 1919, on the report of L. B. Krasin on lifting the requisition of firewood for the aforesaid power station, a decision was adopted—to reject the petition.

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NOTE TO M. I. KALININ

Kalinin, I ask you to arrange an inspection and to help.
14/IV [1919]
Lenin

1 V. I. Lenin's instruction to M. I. Kalinin, Chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, was written on a telegram from peasants of the village of Kartashikha of Knyagininskiy district of Nizhny Novgorod province. The peasants complained of the extremely difficult situation they had created regarding grain, of the incorrect actions of food detachments that came to the village, the absence of seeds for sowing of grain area struck by hail, acute shortage of fodder for livestock, and asked for help.

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ON THE PETITION CONCERNING RED ARMY SOLDIER M. D. TSYGANKOV

I support the petition of the Administration, because I personally know Tsygankov as an absolutely reliable person, and we have too few of such people.

Chairman of SNK V. Ulyanov (Lenin)
17/IV 1919

1 This concerns the raising of a petition before the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic about keeping Red Army soldier M. D. Tsygankov at work in the Administration of Affairs of the Council of People's Commissars in the position of commandant.

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ORDER TO E. M. SKLYANSKY

[April 20, 1919]

To Sklyansky: it is necessary to support Ch[?]

1 Written on a telegram from G. Ya. Sokolnikov, member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front. In the telegram he reported on the situation on the Southern Front, that the units of Makhno's brigade operating there were unfit for combat and unreliable. Sokolnikov wrote that Makhno is waging struggle against communists, the population is suffering from the robberies of his bands. He raised the question of the necessity of removing the decomposed units of Makhno's brigade and providing reinforcements for the Southern Front in order to ensure the advance toward Rostov and its capture.

Simultaneously with his order to E. M. Sklyansky, V. I. Lenin sent a telegram to G. Ya. Sokolnikov, in which he proposed to work out practical directives to ensure the quickest capture of Rostov and the strengthening of the Southern Front and reported that these directives would be carried out through the CC (see Complete Collected Works, vol. 50, p. 283).

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NOTES TO M. I. FRUMKIN

[April 28, 1919]

Comrade Frumkin. What have you done? and what is to be done?

But who is responsible for this? From whom is the delay to be exacted?

1 M. I. Frumkin—member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Food Supply, deputy people's commissar of food supply.

2 V. I. Lenin received a telephone gram from the Moscow District Transportation Department of the Extraordinary Commission. It reported that eight cars of meat arrived on the Moscow-Kazan railroad addressed to the Commissariat of Food Supply, about which the latter was informed on April 23. However, until April 28, the cars had not been fully unloaded. The Transportation Department of the Cheka raised the question about taking urgent measures.

3 M. I. Frumkin, answering V. I. Lenin's notes, reported that they had given timely instructions about unloading the meat and sending it to the cold storage and that, having received notice from the Transportation Department of the Cheka, the People's Commissariat of Food Supply sent its representative to the railroad to take urgent measures. He wrote that he would clarify who specifically was guilty of the delay in unloading.

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NOTE TO A. LOMOV

[April 30, 1919]

To Lomov: have you checked? What are you doing?

1 V. I. Lenin wrote the note to A. Lomov (G. I. Oppokov) on a telegram from Petrograd, which reported the catastrophic condition of city automobile transport due to lack of fuel. City automobile transport, the telegram stated, was on the eve of stoppage.

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INSTRUCTION TO M. I. FRUMKIN
AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH N. N. KRESTINSKY

[May 2, 1919]

For Frumkin for a report at the Defense Council on Monday.

NOTE FROM N. N. KRESTINSKY
I agree to the granting of such powers to Eliava.
Kr.

TO N. N. KRESTINSKY
Agreed. Draft the text. Lenin

1 V. I. Lenin wrote the instruction to M. I. Frumkin on a telegram from Samara, received on May 2, 1919, from N. P. Bryukhanov, commissioner of the Defense Council. Bryukhanov asked urgently to discuss the question of the possibility of his replacement, as he had to return to Moscow to work in the People's Commissariat of Food Supply. He further wrote that the situation in Samara and the Samaro-Orenburg district, in connection with the proximity of the front, required maximum exertion of effort to evacuate valuables to the right bank of the Volga, that the carrying out of this work should be conducted under the guidance of a person invested with broad powers by the Defense Council, and proposed the candidacy of Sh. Z. Eliava, who had arrived from Samara—a member of the revolutionary military council of the Eastern and Turkestan Fronts.

After exchanging notes with N. N. Krestinsky, Lenin wrote of his agreement with Eliava's candidacy and the sending of an appropriate telegram about it. This question was not discussed at a session of the Defense Council.

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NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

Decided to submit to the Political Bureau of the CC.
Draft a reply to Nansen. (We shall not accept an armistice: should we not publish Bullitt's proposal?
To expose Wilson and justify our refusal).

4/V [1919]
Lenin

1 The note is a response to a communication from People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs G. V. Chicherin that a letter dated April 17, 1919, was received at V. I. Lenin's address from the Norwegian scientist, famous researcher of the Arctic, F. Nansen. It was received by radio on May 4, 1919. In his letter, F. Nansen set forth the text of his appeal to the heads of the four Entente powers (USA, England, France, Italy) with a proposal to create a commission to organize aid to Russia with foodstuffs and medicines and their response. In the response of the heads of the Entente powers (Wilson, Lloyd George, Clemenceau, and Orlando), this aid was conditioned upon a cessation of military operations in the territory of Russia, and it was not indicated that this condition would be binding for the powers conducting a policy of intervention against the Soviet republic.

On May 6, 1919, V. I. Lenin wrote remarks on the draft reply to F. Nansen prepared by G. V. Chicherin and M. M. Litvinov (see Complete Collected Works, vol. 50, pp. 304–306).

On May 7, 1919, a radiogram from G. V. Chicherin to F. Nansen was sent. In it, in accordance with V. I. Lenin's instructions, the attitude of the Soviet government to F. Nansen's proposal was set forth and the policy of imperialist countries was exposed, which had imposed a bloody war on Soviet Russia, bringing incalculable suffering to the popular masses (see "Documents of the Foreign Policy of the USSR," vol. II, 1958, pp. 154–160). The plan proposed by F. Nansen was not implemented.

2 This refers to proposals emanating from US President Wilson and British Prime Minister Lloyd George, transmitted through American diplomat W. Bullitt. In March 1919, he came to Soviet Russia to clarify the conditions on which the Soviet government would agree to conclude peace with the Entente countries as well as white-guard governments on the territory of Russia. The Soviet government agreed to conduct negotiations on the proposed conditions, but introduced substantial amendments to them. The text of the draft peace proposal, worked out by the representative of the US government, Bullitt, and the government of the RSFSR, was published in the newspaper "Izvestia VTSIK" No. 110, May 23, 1919 (see "Documents of the Foreign Policy of the USSR," vol. II, 1958, pp. 91–95). Soon after Bullitt's departure from Soviet Russia, Kolchak succeeded in achieving some successes on the Eastern Front, and the imperialist governments, hoping for the defeat of the Soviet state, refused negotiations about peace. Wilson forbade the publication of the draft agreement brought by Bullitt, and Lloyd George, speaking in parliament, stated that he had no relation whatever to negotiations with the Soviet government.

---

NOTE TO N. A. EMELYANOV

[May 4, 1919]

Nikolay Aleksandrovich! Yesterday I sent a gift to your wife by your wife from N. K.
2 (a box) to the station, but the driver did not find your car. In the evening, before going home, call me and come yourself to take the gift.

Greetings! Your Lenin

1 N. A. Emelyanov—worker, party member since 1904. During this period worked on Soviet work in the city of Sestroretsk. In July and August 1917, on assignment of the party, he sheltered V. I. Lenin in Razliv from the persecutions of the bourgeois Provisional Government. V. I. Lenin wrote on the reverse of the note: "To N. A. Emelyanov."

2 Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya.

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NOTE TO N. K. EMELYANOVA

[1919, May, after 4]

To Comrade N. K. Emelyanova

I would be very glad to see you. I saw N. A. Emelyanov. I am now occupied at a session. Write how long you will be in Moscow, where you have settled, if you have settled. I would like for you to see Nadezhda Konstantinovna as well.

Greetings! Lenin

1 N. K. Emelyanova—wife of N. A. Emelyanov.

---

SPEECH AT THE 5TH EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS
OF THE MOSCOW DISTRICT SOVIET OF WORKERS'
AND PEASANTS' DEPUTIES

MAY 17, 1919

(The leader of the Russian and international proletariat, V. I. Lenin, enters the hall. At first scattered, then rapidly merged, long-lasting applause breaks out. Greetings are heard: "Long live the leader of the world proletariat!")

Comrades! It is extremely difficult, extremely hard for us to live through this time. We have had to close certain factories and plants, we have had to mobilize the Volga fleet for the needs of the front, but a turning point has come.

In a brief, vivid speech he outlines the situation on all fronts. Pointing to the causes of the ever-increasing decomposition of Kolchak's and other bands, as well as the growth of the revolutionary movement of the proletariat of other countries, he explains the maneuvers of the imperialist invaders, striving to delay our advance on the Eastern Front. He sets the task of exerting all efforts so that our advance is not halted. This is the last difficult half-year. The international situation for us has never been as good as it is now.

Turning to the question of the relation of the RCP to the middle peasantry, Comrade Lenin proves that the first task was to smash the great predators, bankers, manufacturers, and landowners, and then already a stubborn, prolonged struggle with small predators, kulaks, candidates to be landowners. He proves that the middle peasantry in its many-million mass does not belong to the exploiters and therefore they can be and should be our friends, comrades in this extremely difficult struggle for the socialist state. He proves that only through the union of laboring peasants and workers is it possible to defend the conquests of the social revolution... It is more advantageous to the peasant to be in union with the workers than with anyone else, therefore the conscious peasant will enter into union with the workers. He dwells at length and in detail on the reasons why all the burden of organizational and constructive work and revolutionary struggle has fallen on the shoulders of the proletariat. When the peasantry, because of its atomization, whose horizons did not yet extend beyond their own hut, their own village, could not become conscious of organizational collective construction and the necessity for struggle. When the intelligentsia, partly from inertia, partly owing to bourgeois habits, upbringing, and inclination toward the bourgeoisie, partly from disbelief in the possibility of reconstructing the state on socialist foundations, withdrew from construction—more than that, even consciously obstructed, sabotaged, thereby prolonging the business of liberation.

The moment has come when in the interests of all humanity it is necessary for the exertion of all the strength of the laboring masses. He also dwells on the mistakes and abuses of communists, which in part have alienated and turned the peasantry against themselves, sometimes owing to being overloaded with work, the impossibility of timely control in the localities, sometimes owing to insufficient preparation of young comrades drawn into responsible work, and sometimes simply owing to ill-intentioned persons with a deliberately mercenary purpose who have wormed their way into the ranks of the communists. But measures are being taken, discipline and education are growing.

He dwells on the reasons for the comparatively rapid restoration of industrial life owing to the organization of the proletariat and the concentration of means of production at hand, in contrast to the agricultural sphere, where the conditions are not the same—the absence of an adequate quantity and quality of means of production, tractors, etc., where especially stubborn, prolonged struggle with ignorance and inertia is needed, where demonstrational model farms are needed, where the organization of cooperatives, associations, communes, etc., are needed.

Rapidly concluding with a call to stubborn prolonged work, most serious attention to the tasks set forth, amid prolonged applause, he leaves the congress.

*Printed from a protocol record*

1 The Fifth Extraordinary Congress of the Moscow District Soviet of Workers' and Peasants' Deputies took place in Moscow (Sadovo-Sukharevskaya Street, house 11) on May 16 and 17, 1919. It was attended by 206 delegates, of which: 36 communists, 20 sympathizers, and 150 non-party members. On the agenda of the congress were questions: on the current moment, on the relation to the middle peasantry, reports from the localities, on the re-election of Soviets. The main task of the congress was to explain to the laboring masses the decisions of the VIII Congress of the RCP(b) on the question of work in the countryside, on the relation to the middle peasantry, on the transition from the policy of neutralizing the middle peasantry to a firm union with it. In the reports and in the decisions adopted by the congress, the task was set of drawing the middle peasantry into the work of socialist construction, of carrying out socialist transformations in the countryside: the creation of large demonstrational Soviet farms, the organization of collective farms, agricultural artels and associations for the joint cultivation of land. In the decisions was also set the task of providing aid to small peasant farms with seeds for sowing, in the repair of inventory, with fertilizers.

On May 17, V. I. Lenin arrived at the congress. Warmly received by the congress delegates, he delivered a speech, which is being published for the first time, from the protocol record.

The congress elected a new composition of the executive committee of the Soviets. At the conclusion, the congress sent greetings to V. I. Lenin, the Petrograd proletariat, and the struggling proletariat of Hungary.

---

TELEGRAM TO K. K. YURENEV

May 26, 1919

Simbirsk
or wherever located
To Member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front Yurenev

Tell Kayurov that I received his letter of May 16.
Thank you. I ask you to write more often. I completely agree with him. I very much ask you to take care of Kayurov's family and telegraph me what you have done for it and where is Kayurov himself? Be more attentive to him.

S. S. Kamenev has been appointed again as Commander of the Eastern Front.

Chairman of SNK Lenin

1 V. N. Kayurov—worked during this period in the political department of the 5th Army of the Eastern Front. What he wrote to V. I. Lenin in his letter of May 16, 1919, has not been established.

2 S. S. Kamenev—commander of the Eastern Front from September 1918 to July 1919. When the question arose of replacing S. S. Kamenev as commander of the Eastern Front, members of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Eastern Front S. I. Gusev, M. M. Lashevich, and K. K. Yurenev sent a telegram to the CC of the RCP(b) with objections to this. On this see also V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 50, pp. 316–317, 328. S. S. Kamenev was again appointed commander of the Eastern Front on May 25, 1919. In July 1919, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic.

---

REPLY BY DIRECT LINE
TO G. N. MELNICHANKSY

[1919, May, not later than 30]

Kharkov
To Comrade Melnichanksy

I shall now inquire of Sklyansky. It would perhaps be better to give you the answer by telegraph. Regarding weapons, we probably will not be able to give any.

Lenin

*Printed from telegraph form*

1 In the conversation by direct line, in which G. N. Melnichanksy—member of the Council of Worker-Peasant Defense from the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions—participated, discussion concerned the plan of military workers of Ukraine to create a Donbass Front Revolutionary Military Council subordinate to the Southern Front from the 2nd Ukrainian, 8th, and 13th Armies, and the question was also raised of sending weapons. On June 1, V. I. Lenin, on assignment of the Politburo of the CC, sent telegrams to Kharkov to V. I. Mezhlauk, K. E. Voroshilov, G. N. Melnichanksy, F. A. Artem, and G. N. Kaminsky (see Complete Collected Works, vol. 50, pp. 332–333), in which it was reported that the Politburo of the CC decisively rejected the planned plan. In them was set the task of strengthening the Ukrainian army and indicated that weapons and uniforms were sufficient on the spot. "If one eliminates chaos, meeting-making, and disputes about precedence, then everything can be obtained," Lenin wrote in one of the telegrams.

---

NOTE TO L. M. KARAKHAN

[June 2, 1919]

Comrade Karakhan!

I am sending back Chicherin's abbreviated radio.
I agree.
I ask you to distribute this both to our newspapers and to "Rosta" as a sample of retouching.

Lenin

1 L. M. Karakhan—deputy people's commissar for foreign affairs.

2 This concerns an extract from the report of A. I. Svidersky, member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Food Supply, at a session of the SNK on May 27 about the state of grain procurement and plans for the food campaign until the new harvest, intended for transmission by radio abroad. The Council of People's Commissars, on Svidersky's report, adopted a decision:

"a) Entrust Comrade Svidersky to publish his report on the state of grain procurement, substantiated by numerical data.

b) Extract from this article, after its appearance in print, a brief communication with numerical data and transmit it by radio abroad."

A. I. Svidersky's article was printed in the newspaper "Izvestia VTSIK" Nos. 118 and 119, June 3 and 4, 1918. An extract from the manuscript of this article for transmission by radio was provided to V. I. Lenin. On June 2, having familiarized himself with the extract from the article, Lenin instructed the secretary to call Rosta so that on June 3 they would report in writing how many newspapers and cities the extract was sent to, and also to G. V. Chicherin so that the extract would be transmitted by radio in German, French, and English (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 50, pp. 333–334).

---

TELEGRAM TO L. D. TROTSKY

[June 3, 1919]

To Comrade Trotsky

Are you fully informed about the situation on the Southern Front? What are you undertaking? Where are you going? I would consider it useful to send Minin to Tsaritsyn now to conduct work on its defense. What is your view on this?

Lenin

*Printed from text written by E. M. Sklyansky on a telegraph form*

1 L. D. Trotsky—chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic, was at that time in Kharkov.

2 S. K. Minin—member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs. On the proposal of V. I. Lenin, the joint session of the Politburo and Orgburo of the CC of the RCP(b) on June 18, 1919, adopted a decision to send S. K. Minin to Tsaritsyn as a member of the Revolutionary Military Council, in the 10th Army defending the city, in which he had been before, until the beginning of October 1918.

---

NOTE TO E. M. SKLYANSKY

June 6, 1919

To Sklyansky

Sapronovʹs Proposals

1) Free those with many family members, the last worker in the family (from the mobilization of prisoners of war and those 25–30 years and older)

2) Organize detachments from them to struggle against desertion (placing responsibility on them).

1 T. V. Sapronovّ—chairman of the Moscow Provincial Executive Committee.

2 This concerns, apparently, the decision of the Council of Worker-Peasant Defense "On the conscription into military service of soldiers of the disbanded old army, returned or returning from captivity" of May 12, 1919 (see "Collection of Ordinances and Decrees of the Worker and Peasant Government," 1919, No. 19, May 30, art. 229, p. 252).

---

TELEGRAM TO L. D. TROTSKY

[June 11, 1919]

In cipher
To Trotsky

I agree to your coming on two conditions: first, maximum speed of return, so as not to leave the South without supervision; second, so that there is ensured maximum and most maximum energy in the South without you, so that they do not finish us off from the South.

Lenin

1 L. D. Trotsky was at that time in Kozlov.

---

NOTE BY DIRECT LINE TO L. D. TROTSKY

[June 11, 1919]

To Trotsky

In connection with the latest telegram from Stalin and Zinoviev, it would be best if both you and they should meet in Moscow as soon as possible, on Friday the 13th or Saturday the 14th, inform me at once when you will be, so that we call them and others to a plenum.

Lenin

1 V. I. Lenin's note to L. D. Trotsky was transmitted in cipher by direct line to Kozlov on June 12, 1919.

2 In a telegram to V. I. Lenin, I. V. Stalin and G. E. Zinoviev proposed holding a joint session of the Orgburo and Politburo of the CC of the RCP(b), which they could attend, and to postpone the plenum of the CC. I. V. Stalin—member of the CC of the RCP(b), member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Western Front, was at that time in Petrograd. G. E. Zinoviev—member of the CC of the RCP(b), chairman of the Petrograd Soviet.

3 The plenum of the CC of the RCP(b) took place on June 15. On it, the question was discussed of changes in the higher command staff and the strengthening of the revolutionary military councils, on the Eastern Front, and other questions. I. V. Stalin and G. E. Zinoviev did not attend the plenum.

---

NOTE TO L. B. KRASIN

[Not earlier than June 15—not later than June 17, 1919]

It has been decided (in the CC) to remove Kolegaev from there and appoint him to Tsentralvoenzag.
Arrange with Krestinsky about Vladimirov (I am for it) and with Sklyansky.

1 L. B. Krasin—chairman of the Extraordinary Commission for Supply of the Red Army.

2 A. L. Kolegaev was chairman of the Special Food Commission of the Southern Front (Oprodkom) until June 1919, then by decision of the plenum of the CC of the party of June 15, 1919, was appointed to the Tsentralvoenzag.

3 N. N. Krestinsky—member of the CC of the RCP(b). M. K. Vladimirov—member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Food Supply. By decisions of the Orgburo of the CC of the RCP(b) of June 19 and the SNK of June 20, 1919, he was appointed in place of A. L. Kolegaev as member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front and chairman of the Special Food Commission of that front. E. M. Sklyansky—deputy chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic.

---

LETTER TO P. I. STUCHKA

June 19, 1919

Comrade Stuchka!

On the matter concerning Tregubov and his activity, it seems an investigation is required: is it true that he is conducting counter-revolutionary speeches, as stated by Section VIII of the People's Commissariat of Justice (No. 723)?

Do you agree to investigate and check precisely? I ask you to answer me on this.

Chairman of SNK V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

1 P. I. Stuchka—deputy people's commissar of justice of the RSFSR.

2 It apparently refers to I. M. Tregubov, who was a member and leader of the religious labor commune-community "Sober Life," which existed in Moscow at that time.

---

TELEGRAM TO KH. G. RAKOVSKY

June 19, 1919

Kiev
To the SNK, Rakovsky

Inform Markhlevsky's wife that her husband is in Moscow. Is well, awaits you. Telegraph reply.

Lenin

1 Kh. G. Rakovsky—chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of Ukraine.

2 Julian Markhlevsky—prominent figure in Polish and international labor movement. On June 19, 1919, having crossed the Polish front, he arrived in Moscow from Poland, where he had fled in spring 1919 from Germany due to the mortal danger threatening him there from the troops of Noske for illegal revolutionary work as a member of the CC of the Communist Party of Germany, which he had conducted in the Ruhr region. In Poland, Markhlevsky, with the knowledge of the Polish Communist Party, proposed to the government of Pilsudski to begin peace negotiations with the Soviet government.

Markhlevsky's wife—Bronislava Markhlevskaya. After coming to Moscow from Berlin in 1918, she worked in the Commissariat for Polish National Affairs at the People's Commissariat for Nationalities, overseeing the cultural and educational work of the commissariat.

3 V. I. Lenin's telegram was received in Kiev the same day. An answer from Kh. G. Rakovsky to V. I. Lenin could not be found.

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NOTE TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY
AND UNDERLININGS ON THE TELEPHONE GRAM FROM PETROGRAD

To Dzerzhinsky: I ask you to arrange an inspection and an answer to me.
26/VI [1919] Lenin

Telephone gram No. 1
From the Moscow Department of the Petrograd Committee of Food Supply
to Comrade Lenin

On June 21 the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission arrested Vinograd, the representative at the People's Commissariat of Food Supply from the Petrograd Commissariat of Food Supply and from the head of supplies of the Petrograd Military District. In view of the extraordinary importance of the functions performed by Vinograd, there is necessary either his speedy liberation or replacement by another person, for which reason we, as official representatives of the Petrograd People's Commissariat of Food Supply and the Petrograd Military District, appeal to you with a request both for acceleration of consideration of Vinograd's case and for immediate familiarization of us with the investigation, material, and state of the question in this case.

On the above-stated we appeal to you with an insistent request and also Comrade Badaev, on whose behalf we are authorized to make this statement. On the subsequent we ask you not to refuse to inform us by telephone gram at tel. 2-60-42 or 5-75-73.

Representative of Petrograd Military District Ivan Labuzinsky
Petrokomprод Dukelsky

1 F. E. Dzerzhinsky—chairman of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for the Struggle Against Counter-Revolution, Sabotage, and Speculation at the Council of People's Commissars (VChK).

2 On June 30, 1919, the VChK sent V. I. Lenin a reply in the case of V. M. Vinograd, in which it was reported that Vinograd was accused of espionage in favor of Japan in 1913 and according to the decision of the presidium of the VChK of June 27, 1919, was placed in a concentration camp for two years. On July 31, 1919, the case of V. M. Vinograd was reviewed and he was released.

---

NOTE TO L. P. SEREBRYAKOV
AND RESOLUTION ON THE LETTER OF B. G. KOZLOVSKY

[After June 25, 1919]

Read here?
I shall read. Do you vouch for the author?

[November, not later than 12, 1919]

To Stasova for transmission to Serebryakov.

1 This concerns the letter of military specialist, Petrograd provincial military commissar, member of the Committee for Defense of Petrograd, B. G. Kozlovsky, to the secretary of the CC of the RCP(b), L. P. Serebryakov, of June 25, 1919, about the state of affairs in the military institutions of Petrograd, about his dissatisfaction with the work, with a request to recall him from Petrograd to any work. For Lenin's letters to B. G. Kozlovsky on this matter, see the present collection, p. 172.

2 E. D. Stasova—secretary of the CC of the RCP(b).

---

NOTE TO THE SMALL SNK

To the Small Council
SNK

This is a statement of Comrade Shternberg, member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the 2nd Army (strangely enough, not signed by him). I ask the Small Council to consider it.

26/VI [1919]
Lenin

1 When speaking of "the statement of Comrade Shternberg," V. I. Lenin is referring to the draft decision of the Council of People's Commissars written by P. K. Shternberg about the payment of one to fifty-four months of wages for the period of occupation by whites to workers and employees of nationalized enterprises in the district of location of the 2nd Army. V. I. Lenin's note is written on the reverse of this draft.

The draft decision was discussed and unanimously adopted at a session of the Small SNK on June 27, 1919.

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TELEGRAM TO I. T. SMILGA

June 27, 1919

To the Revolutionary Military Council
of the Western Front
In cipher
To Smilga
member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic
member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Western Front

I hope you received notice about the plenum on July third.
You must come. Telegraph me whether you will definitely come.

Lenin

1 I. T. Smilga—member of the CC of the RCP(b).

2 This refers to the plenum of the CC of the RCP(b), which took place on July 3–4, 1919, on which military and other questions were discussed. The central place in the work of the plenum was occupied by discussion of the military situation and a number of measures to strengthen the fronts. The plenum once again confirmed the correctness of the military policy conducted by the Soviet government since the time of the III All-Russian Congress of Soviets and approved by the VIII Congress of the RCP(b). The plenum made a number of changes in the supreme command of the military forces of the Republic and in the command of certain fronts and armies. A number of decisions were adopted on general and party mobilizations, on the reduction of work in the people's commissariats not directly serving the army, and others.

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ANNOTATIONS ON THE TELEGRAM OF V. M. GITTIS,
K. A. MEKHONOSHІN, AND G. YA. SOKOLNIKOV
AND NOTE TO E. M. SKLYANSKY

[The text is cut off at this point in the original document provided]

[28 June 1919]

...Our four divisions of front reserve are short
80—90% (here and below underlined by V. I. Lenin) in terms of personnel,
horses, wagons and harnesses. In view of the order of the Revolutionary Military
Council of the Republic from 8 June No. 991, mobilization in the Orel and Kharkov
districts can be conducted only with prior agreement with the All-Russian Chief
of Staff. The Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front was in contact
with the latter on this matter on 20 June No. 3051 — uau. Subsequently on 24 June
by direct wire the Chief of Staff transmitted to the Chief of the All-Russian Chief
of Staff our requirements, which were then further transmitted by telegram on
24 June No. 3219 — mau. After this on 27 June another telegram was sent repeat-
ing the request and asking for information as to when the requested mobilization
could be expected to be carried out. No answer has been received to date. The
Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front, in view of the extreme im-
portance and urgency of the question, categorically insists on its speedy resolution.
No. 3352/mau. Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front V. Gittis, K. Mekhonoshin,
Sokolnikov

To Sklyansky: so someone
is guilty of the delay (20/VI—24/VI—27/VI).
Who? It must be investigated.

¹ V. I. Lenin's note was written on a copy of the telegram from members
of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front V. M. Gittis, K. A.
Mekhonoshin and G. Ya. Sokolnikov dated 27 June 1919 to the Council of Labor
and Defense.

RESOLUTION ON THE TELEGRAM
OF M. M. LASHEVICH AND K. K. YURENEV

[1 July 1919]

Telegram

To Lenin only, Moscow, Kremlin, to Lenin
copy
to Prerevvoensovet Trotsky
at his location, copy Serpukhov, to Gusev
Simbirsk 1 July, at 22 hours on 30 June by glorious units of the third army Perm
was taken. Kungur was taken by units. We request the award for the 3rd army

1919

in the amount of one month's salary on par with other armies for valiant campaign
from Glazov to Perm.

Revolutionary Military Council Lashevich, Yurenev

I fully agree². 
Lenin

¹ M. M. Lashevich and K. K. Yurenev — members of the Revolutionary Military Council
of the Eastern Front. M. M. Lashevich from November 1918 to March 1919 was commander
and from August 1918 to February 1919 — member of the Revolutionary Military Council
of the 3rd Army.

² In presenting the telegram to V. I. Lenin, E. M. Sklyansky, deputy chairman
of the People's Commissar for Military Affairs and deputy chairman of the Revolutionary
Military Council of the Republic, wrote on it: "If you agree, we shall confirm it in the name
of the Council of Defense."

To the telegram from M. M. Lashevich and K. K. Yurenev V. I. Lenin replied
with a congratulatory telegram to the troops of the 3rd Army of the Eastern Front
(see V. I. Lenin. Collected Works, vol. 51, p. 3).

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SECRETARY

[2 July 1919]

Call Stalin and Smilga² (they are at Dzerzhinsky's apartment in the Kremlin), what about
the telegram I gave them today about (about Serdovsk) Saratov?³ necessarily get in contact
with Headquarters, with Serpukhov and a c h i e v e f a s t a n d e n e r g e t i c
m e a s u r e s. Write down their answer⁴. One cannot wait for Gusev⁵, let Smilga immediately
get in contact with Serpukhov⁶. Talk yourself with Gusev and tell him that I demand at all costs
e x t r a o r d i n a r y m e a s u r e s i m m e d i a t e l y: Serpukhov must give me a telephonogram
about what has been done, today itself⁷.

¹ These instructions were given by V. I. Lenin to L. A. Fotieva, secretary of the Council of People's
Commissars, during a session of the Council of Defense on 2 July 1919.

² I. V. Stalin — member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic, member of the Revolutionary
Military Council of the Western Front.
I. T. Smilga — member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Western Front.

³ V. I. Lenin's telegram to I. V. Stalin and I. T. Smilga of 2 July 1919 has not been located. Apparently it was
written in connection with the receipt by him of a copy of an enciphered telegram from Commander-in-Chief
I. I. Vatzetis and member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic S. I. Gusev to the commander
of the Eastern Front S. S. Kamenev of 2 July 1919 concerning the abandonment of Tsaritsyn by the troops
of the Southern Front and the resulting threat to the rear of the right flank of the Eastern Front and to Saratov
from the Denikinites. The command of the Eastern Front was proposed to strengthen the right flank of the front
with the most combat-capable troop units and to prepare the necessary reserves for their transfer to the Saratov
region and other threatened points.

⁴ To Lenin's first note L. A. Fotieva replied: "The telegram will be transmitted to Gusev, who was supposed
to be at 8 o'clock but has not yet arrived. Measures will also be mentioned to Gusev.
Smilga is on his way to Dzerzhinsky's, where Stalin will soon be. I spoke with Stalin, he promised to have
a serious talk with Gusev and to carry out everything today.
He says that Smilga looks at things from the perspective of eternity."

⁵ S. I. Gusev — member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic, commissar attached to the chief
of the field staff at Headquarters of the supreme command, located in Serpukhov.

⁶ In response to this L. A. Fotieva informed V. I. Lenin: "Stalin gave wrong information. Gusev is now sitting
with Smilga and the telegram was transmitted to him 20 minutes ago."

⁷ Having carried out this instruction, L. A. Fotieva wrote to V. I. Lenin:
"Stalin will now call Smilga."

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH N. N. KRESTINSKY

[July, not earlier than 3 — not later than 15, 1919]

I am very uncertain. Perhaps, if you wish it, to send
2—3 of ours conditionally, so that, having heard everyone, they decide whether
to speak and how to speak¹.

Previously I was opposed to allowing it, but the experience of Golosov's report
and the speeches of Sosnovskii and Mgeladze at it are favorable. One could direct
Lunacharskii, Sosnovskii, and perhaps Bukharin, so that they speak, not listed on the posters,
but like Sukhanov.

The Mensheviks are playing tricks, and they deserve to be thoroughly beaten
for it.

¹ Apparently referring to one of the meetings or gatherings organized by the Mensheviks in Moscow
after the legalization of the Menshevik party by decision of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee
of 30 November 1918. At one such meeting, held before 14 June 1919, N. Sukhanov and other Menshevik
leaders spoke. At a meeting on 3 July 1919 a Menshevik named G. Golosov (B. I. Nikolaevskii), who had
recently returned from Siberia, where he had been sent in 1918 by the Central Committee of the Menshevik
party, gave a report. In his report, Golosov recounted the atrocities and excesses of Kolchak's forces in Siberia,
of which he was a witness, told of how not only workers, but also peasants, even kulaks and patriotically-minded
intellectuals are rising up against Kolchak, of the ripening of a revolutionary explosion in Siberia and of the
beginning of a workers' uprising in the Urals. The speaker was forced to admit that all of Siberia awaits the
arrival of the Red Army and Bolsheviks. Everyone is ready for any sacrifice for the restoration of Soviet power.
Such statements by the Mensheviks were merely a mask. This is shown, for example, by the fact that F. Dan,
who presided over this meeting, organized a collection of funds for the benefit of Mensheviks — members
of the Constituent Assembly — during Golosov's report. At this meeting, a number of Bolsheviks attended
in order to expose the Mensheviks, among whom were L. S. Sosnovskii, editor of the newspaper "Bedota," and
journalist I. V. Mgeladze (I. Vardin). They spoke at the meeting with an exposure of the Mensheviks' attempts
to "accommodate themselves to the growing mood everywhere" ("Izvestiya VTsIK" No. 144, 4 July and No. 145,
5 July 1919).

V. I. Lenin, speaking with a report "On the Current Situation and Immediate Tasks of Soviet Power" at a
joint session of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, Moscow Soviet, All-Russian Central Council of
Trade Unions, and factory-plant committees of Moscow on 4 July, gave a proper evaluation of Golosov's report
at the Menshevik meeting (see V. I. Lenin. Collected Works, vol. 39, pp. 38—39).

NOTE TO A. I. SVIDERSKY

AND DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b)

[1919, July, not later than 15]

I agree. Gather the signatures of Central Committee members:
Krestinsky, Kamenev, and others. In the press do not permit
discussion of the question of raising fixed prices on grain
and other food products² and do not touch on this question.

Lenin

LENIN COLLECTION

¹ A. I. Svidersky — member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Food.

² In view of food difficulties, the Soviet government was forced to raise fixed prices on grain from the second
half of 1919, and in connection with this to establish maximum prices on items of industry. A special commission
was created to prepare this question. The commission's report (the reporter was V. P. Milyutin) was discussed at
a session of the Council of People's Commissars on 22 July 1919. At the session V. I. Lenin wrote a note to
V. P. Milyutin, deputy chairman of the Supreme Council of the National Economy, and P. I. Popov, chairman
of the Central Statistical Administration, with a request to calculate approximately how much money per month
would be needed if grain prices were increased (three or five times), as well as prices of industrial products for
peasants, while selling grain and industrial products to workers and officials at old prices, increasing their wages
and salaries by 10% (see V. I. Lenin. Collected Works, vol. 51, pp. 19—20). In accordance with these instructions
from Lenin, the Council of People's Commissars instructed the commission to carry out a general calculation
of the increase in fixed prices conditionally three times, and the People's Commissariat of Food and the Supreme
Council of the National Economy, based on these calculations, to present to the Council of People's Commissars
on 24 July 1919 proposals concerning fixed prices. The Council of People's Commissars in its session on 24 July
accepted in principle V. P. Milyutin's proposals. It was decided not to publish them. A resolution was also adopted
to discuss at the Council of People's Commissars on 31 July questions about implementing such measures so that
workers and officials would pay for grain and products at prices of the first half of 1919, as well as about the exact
quantity of industrial products to be sold and prices for them. Having discussed these questions, on 31 July the
Council of People's Commissars resolved that sale prices for food products and items of industry for workers
and officials remain those that had been in effect before. The People's Commissariat of Food and the presidium
of the Supreme Council of the National Economy were instructed no later than 1 September 1919 to publish
fixed prices on food products and industrial items listed by V. P. Milyutin for the entire year.

LETTER TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

19.VII. 1919

To the People's Commissars
of Postal Service
Paths of Communication
Food
Military Affairs

I request you to receive the bearer, comrade Yushkin,
one of the best workers of the V Army, a Petrograd worker, party member,
and to render him every assistance in his matter.

Pres. Council of Defense V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

1919

¹ The letter was written by V. I. Lenin during a conversation with P. Yushkin, whom he received based
on a letter from I. N. Smirnov, member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the 5th Army of the Eastern
Front, dated 10 July 1919. On Yushkin's project concerning the organization of a commission attached to the
Revolutionary Military Council of the 5th Army for sending food parcels to Red Army families in starving
provinces, V. I. Lenin made a note: "Yushkin's project (V Army) 19/VII" (Central Party Archives under the
Central Committee of the CPSU).

TELEGRAM TO I. V. STALIN

Revolutionary Military Council
Western Front, to Stalin

There are increasing indications that Petrograd is in extreme danger.
Try to accelerate reinforcement. Should you not personally
carry out heroic measures there?

Lenin
1/VIII 1919, 21 h. 30 m.

Printed from deciphered telegraph blank

NOTES ON THE MEMORANDUM OF V. I. NEVSKII
AND NOTE TO A. I. SVIDERSKY

[8 August 1919]

To the People's Commissar for Education
Comrade A. V. Lunacharsky
8 August 1919

In view of the transition of the Central School
of Soviet and Party Work of the All-Russian Central
Executive Committee to your supervision, we request
that you render all assistance and urgency in obtaining
the necessary food products to improve the nutrition
of the students, among whom we observe severe
exhaustion, cases of scurvy, anemia
and general exhaustion. Total number of students — 1100 people. In recent days
7 cases of scurvy have been registered.
The students are engaged in intensive
work, 8—10 hours per day, and the admin-
t. Svidersky!
Urgent
measures of assistance are
needed. Report to me
exactly (no later than tomorrow)
how much you will give¹.

LENIN COLLECTION

istration distributes only seedlings in enormous
quantities, dried vegetables; has completely cut off flour,
butter, potatoes and other products necessary for main-
taining health. Because of this the school is deprived
of the possibility of providing any adequately nutritious
food. All attempts undertaken by the school administration
to obtain products have so far been unsuccessful,
and if you, Comrade Lunacharsky, do not come to the
school's aid in this matter, then further work becomes
unthinkable.
Head of School V. Nevskii
Secretary Kokozhanova

¹ The note was written by V. I. Lenin on a memorandum from V. I. Nevskii to A. V. Lunacharsky dated
8 August 1919. V. I. Lenin received it together with a letter from A. V. Lunacharsky addressed to him with
a request to render assistance in supplying food to the school's students.

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

[22 August 1919]

Most esteemed Vladimir Ilyich!

We are sending you your interview again. In a few hours
Good is leaving, we would be very grateful if you returned the interview now.

With comradely greetings Georgy Chicherin

No objections and remarks¹.

Lenin

¹ An interview with William T. Good, an English educator, public figure and journalist, professor, who came
to Moscow as a correspondent of the English bourgeois-liberal newspaper "The Manchester Guardian," Lenin gave
(in English) on 20 August 1919. The interview was published in that newspaper on 21 October 1919, in No. 22838.

In the interview Lenin answered Good's questions about the Soviet government's attitude toward the proposals
of William Bullitt to the Paris Conference, about the Soviet Republic's attitude toward small nationalities, about
the guarantees the Soviet government was ready to give concerning propaganda in Western countries. To Good's
question whether Lenin wanted to make some general statement, Lenin replied "that the most important thing he
should say is that the Soviet system is the best system and that English workers and working farmers would
accept it if they became acquainted with it," and expressed the hope "that after the conclusion of peace the English
government will not prevent the publication of the text of the Soviet Constitution." "...Morally," said Lenin, "the
Soviet system has already won even now and...proof of the correctness of this assertion is the persecution of
Soviet literature in free democratic countries." In parting, Lenin gave Good his photograph with an inscription
in English and Russian: "20 Aug. 1919 V. Ulyanov (Lenin) 20/8 1919 Wladimir Oulianoff (Lenin)."

Having reviewed the text of his interview with William T. Good, Lenin urgently sent it to G. V. Chicherin
by secret packet.

When Lenin reviewed the text of his interview with Good for the first time could not be established.

In Russian the interview was first published in the newspaper "Izvestiya" No. 30, 5 February 1960
(see "Memoirs of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin in Five Volumes. Vol. 5. Memoirs of Foreign Contemporaries." M.,
Politizdat, 1970, pp. 243—245).

LETTER TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY

23. V I I I . 1919

Comrade Dzerzhinsky!

1) On the attached paper,
i.e., on this operation¹, it is necessary
to pay the closest attention. Quickly and energetically
and more broadly it is necessary to seize.

2) The newspaper "Narod"² has close ties with the right Socialist-Revolutionaries.
Without closing it, it is necessary to track them down³.

Your Lenin

¹ "The attached paper" — this is a communication from the Cheka dated 22 August 1919 about the uncovering
of a central counter-revolutionary organization "National Center" and about forthcoming operations to arrest
members of this organization.

² "Narod" — a Socialist-Revolutionary newspaper, published weekly from 17 August 1919 in Moscow.

³ On the night of 28 December 1919 the Cheka carried out a series of arrests among right Socialist-Revolutionaries,
including members of the Central Committee of this party. Thus a decisive blow was struck against the party of
right Socialist-Revolutionaries, which operated illegally and pursued the goal of overthrowing Soviet power.

LENIN COLLECTION

LETTER TO E. M. SKLYANSKY

6/IX [1919] 7 o'clock 50 minutes

Comrade Sklyansky! Cannot the Council of Defense
be transferred to Friday morning? If it is absolutely not possible,
then send me a telephonogram about this on Monday (and no later
than Tuesday)¹.

Please get in contact with all members of the Council of Defense:
if possible, I would request, as an exception, Friday morning, 11 o'clock a.m. — 4 o'clock p.m.

Your Lenin
P.S. Answer me Monday or Tues-
day by telephonogram in any case².

Council of People's Commissars will be on Thursday.

¹ In its session on 6 September 1919, the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) adopted a resolution
to allow Lenin a vacation of 1—2 weeks with sessions of the Council of People's Commissars and Council of Defense
held once per week during this time.

² Lenin's request was granted. The session of the Council of Defense took place on Friday, 12 September 1919.

NOTE TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY

To Dzerzhinsky:
in my opinion, release (if there is no evidence)¹, taking two more guarantors,
who can be punished for his escape.

Send a copy of this to M. N. Pokrovsky².

9/IX [1919]

Lenin

¹ The matter concerns Professor S. I. Sazonov, who taught physics and chemistry at the 1st Pedagogical Institute
and Institute of Preschool Education in Petrograd, who was arrested together with other scholars in connection with
their former membership in the Cadet party. Scientists at the Academy of Sciences V. A. Stroev, A. P. Pinkevich,
and Professor N. M. Knipovich requested in a telegram from Petrograd to N. K. Krupskaya as a member of the
collegium of the People's Commissariat of Education that Sazonov be released under their guarantee. By decision of
the collegium of the Petrograd provincial Cheka of 18 September 1919, S. I. Sazonov was released.

² M. N. Pokrovsky — deputy people's commissar for education.

1919

NOTE TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY

To Comrades Dzerzhinsky
(or Ksenofontov¹
or Mantsev² (Moscow Cheka)

In case of any misunderstanding I hereby certify
that the bearer, Comrade Vladimir Aleksandrovich Obukh³,
came to me for treatment of his wife and is traveling home to Moscow
with my chauffeur, Comrade Giel⁴.

14/IX 1919.

Pres. Council of Defense V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

¹ I. K. Ksenofontov — member of the collegium and deputy chairman of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission
for Combating Counter-Revolution, Sabotage and Speculation under the Council of People's Commissars (Cheka).

² V. N. Mantsev — chairman of the Moscow Extraordinary Commission (Moscow Cheka).

³ V. A. Obukh — party member since 1894, doctor, who from 1919—1929 headed the Moscow Department
of Health. He participated in the treatment of V. I. Lenin and members of his family. The note concerns his
trip to Gorki, where V. I. Lenin spent his vacation together with N. K. Krupskaya.

⁴ S. K. Giel — V. I. Lenin's chauffeur from 1917 to 1924.

NOTE TO D. I. KURSKY

Comrade Kursky! I request that you familiarize yourself with this matter¹ and
submit your conclusion to the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee².

18/IX [1919]

Lenin

¹ The matter concerns D. D. Makhlina, sentenced by the Supreme Revolutionary Tribunal to 15 years' imprisonment
for assisting a spy organization. This note was written by V. I. Lenin on a petition from D. D. Makhlina's brother,
L. D. Makhlin, to the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars requesting the conditional release of Makhlina
under his responsibility and guarantee.

² Having familiarized himself with D. D. Makhlina's case, People's Commissar of Justice D. I. Kursky concluded
that she could not be released until the end of the Civil War, as her guilt in assisting a spy organization was fully
established. A conclusion on this was sent by Kursky to the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee
on 8 October 1919. Based on this conclusion, the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee rejected
L. D. Makhlin's petition.

NOTE TO M. F. VLADIMIRSKY

Comrade Vladimirsky! Complaint from a mother about the slandering,
persecution and arrest of her son (former cadet and then
twice elected as chairman of the Karachev executive committee).
I request that you appoint
an investigation (sign me on the demand for it)¹
and inform me of the result.

23. IX [1919]

Lenin

¹ The note was written by V. I. Lenin on a letter from A. Antonova, a schoolteacher from the village of Molodovoe
in Karachev District of Orel Province, requesting assistance in securing the release of her son M. T. Antonov, former
chairman of the Karachev district executive committee, accused by local authorities of a criminal offense consisting
in the purchase of cloth, and imprisoned in the Orel jail. In the letter from Antonova (six large pages), V. I. Lenin
made numerous underlinings while reading it.

² In connection with V. I. Lenin's note, the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs, signed by deputy people's
commissar M. F. Vladimirsky and deputy head of the administration department N. N. Chistyakov, sent on 25
September 1919 a telegram to the Orel provincial executive committee with a proposal to urgently investigate the
reasons for Antonov's arrest and imprisonment in jail at Lenin's request and to immediately send to the People's
Commissariat of Internal Affairs material on his activities.

ORDER TO THE SECRETARY

[30 September 1919]

Make a copy and tomorrow (1/X) send it to Frunze² (via Sklyansky), while
Frunze is here, with a note from me that I request a character reference
and recommend Chugurin as an excellent party member.

Lenin

¹ The order was written by V. I. Lenin on a letter from I. D. Chugurin and A. S. Kukushkin, working in the
political department of the 4th Army, dated 28 August 1919 addressed to N. K. Krupskaya. The letter reported on the
difficult situation of the army conducting an offensive toward Guryev across steppe and sandy terrain and experiencing
a shortage of water. "But the main thing dangerous for us," the letter stated, "is the lack of uniforms, lack of shoes...
There is no clean linen, and Red Army soldiers wear either upper or lower underwear... You see that in recent times
it has moved forward, 2/3 have no bayonets... Political work under these conditions is very difficult, since Red Army
soldiers frequently demand uniforms instead of words... We need literature in the Tatar language... We need literature,
this in Tatar language, musical instruments, which comrades have been sent for. They need assistance..." While reading
the letter, Lenin underlined the quoted passages of the text. An extract from the letter of Chugurin and Kukushkin
was sent on 7 October 1919 by Lenin's order to Centroprint and the People's Commissariat of Education.

² M. V. Frunze — commander of the Turkestan Front.

NOTE TO L. D. TROTSKY

Comrade Trotsky! Should we not publicize it and from you + from the Orgburo
(+ from me, if you wish) publish an appeal?¹

30/IX [1919]

Lenin

¹ The note was written by V. I. Lenin on the telegram of G. E. Zinoviev, chairman of the Petrograd Soviet,
received by him dated 30 September 1919 about the initial results of political mobilization of responsible workers
for the Southern Front. This work was carried out pursuant to the resolutions of plenums of the Central Committee
of the RCP(b) of 21 and 26 September 1919, adopted on the proposal of V. I. Lenin. "...Today the first group of 40 people
is leaving," the telegram reported. "This includes the most responsible workers of Petrograd — members of the Petrograd
Committee, members of the presidium of the Soviet and Council of Trade Unions. Tomorrow the second group of 70 people
is leaving, the day after tomorrow — the rest. Among them some district committees in their entirety. Those leaving for the
front are replaced by new people. In all districts there is a wave of voluntarism, we have to refuse people. A city-wide meeting of
active workers held today expressed unanimous readiness to immediately send large groups of active workers to the Southern Front.
The same decision was reached by the governing boards of trade unions."

² Such an appeal in the press could not be located. In the newspapers "Pravda" and "Izvestiya VTsIK," Nos. 221
of 4 October 1919, an article by V. I. Lenin "The Example of Petrograd Workers" was published (see V. I. Lenin.
Collected Works, vol. 39, pp. 206—208).

LETTER TO B. G. KOZLOVSKY

2.X. 1919

Comrade Kozlovsky!

I was told about you by Comrades Serebryakov and Rozengolts. Apparently,
with the departure of the latter¹, you may find yourself, so to speak,
"alone." Then I request that you write to me directly with an account of the state of affairs
and requests.

Inform me of the receipt of this letter².

With comradely greetings Lenin

¹ This refers to A. P. Rozengolts's departure from Petrograd, where he was from 30 June to 30 September 1919
a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the 7th Army, to the 13th Army, to which he was appointed
member of the Revolutionary Military Council from 7 October 1919.

² See also V. I. Lenin's note to L. P. Serebryakov and the resolution on B. G. Kozlovsky's letter (this collection, p. 158).

CERTIFICATION ON A PROTECTIVE CERTIFICATE TO N. V. KORZLINSKII

[9 October 1919]

I confirm this certification¹, and likewise declare that
searches in this apartment² are permissible only by special
directive from the Cheka.

Pres. Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from manuscript

My resolution on the reverse hereof in the lower left corner of
9 October 1919 under No. 10016 retains its force for the year
1921.

27 June 1921
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from typescript text signed by V. I. Lenin

1919

¹ N. V. Korzlinskii — doctor, prominent figure in education, member of the pedagogical council of the Esperanto
institute, chairman of the Moscow Society of Esperantists, author of the "Russian-Esperanto Dictionary."

² A protective certificate to N. V. Korzlinskii was issued by the People's Commissariat of Education under the
signature of deputy people's commissar for education M. N. Pokrovsky on 27 March 1919. With Lenin's confirmation,
it was sent by his order to the Cheka and Moscow Cheka with a covering note from the secretary of the Council
of People's Commissars: "By order of Comrade Lenin," the note stated, "I am sending you a copy of the protective
certificate to Doctor Korzlinskii with his note, to which Comrade Lenin requests special attention be paid, so that
nothing be done contrary to it" (Central State Archive of the USSR).

³ N. V. Korzlinskii lived in apartment No. 3 of house No. 12 on Kalashny Lane in Moscow.

NOTE TO A. D. TSYURUPA

[13 or 14 October 1919]

Comrade Tsyurupa: what have you done?
Order a report sent to me.

Lenin

¹ A. D. Tsyurupa — people's commissar for food.
The note was written by V. I. Lenin on a copy of a telegram received in his name from M. G. Nepryakhin,
food commissar of Astrakhan Province, and S. M. Kirov, member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the
11th Army. The telegram was received on 13 October 1919. It stated:

"Astrakhan Province has long not received pursuant to requisitions by successive directives textiles, shoes, other
goods, because of which the population, especially workers, suffers. If the food commissariat had previously some
insignificant stocks, they are [used] for the army, which also receives nothing, [and it] suffers, although it fights heroically
all the time on the surrounding fronts. The collection of grain, livestock, fish, hay is proceeding. Food, goods for barter,
the application of which Comrades Lenin and Tsyurupa insistently recommend in telegram 1604/1, although because
of the absence of goods barter is impossible. We urgently request Comrade Lenin and Comrade Tsyurupa to pay attention
and render immediate assistance in the dispatch by Glavprodukt of all goods due to us — by mail trains. We will stand
for Astrakhan as we defended it, so will we defend [it]. We request an answer" ("Questions of Archival Studies," 1964,
No. 2, pp. 101—102).

LETTER TO M. V. KOTOMKIN

28.X. 1919

To Ufa

To Comrade Mikhail Vasilievich Kotomkin

Comrade Kotomkin! Allow me to address you with one request. Lidia
Aleksandrovna Fotieva¹, secretary of the Council of People's Commissars, is going to Ufa.
She is quite ill, in need of treatment and especially nutrition, otherwise
she will be unable to work. And we need her very much as a secretary. I very much request
that you take all measures to help L. A. Fotieva settle and be fed².

Do not refuse to inform me of the receipt of this letter³.

I thank you in advance and send comradely greetings.

Pres. Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

¹ M. V. Kotomkin — food commissar of Ufa Province.
² L. A. Fotieva worked from 1918 as secretary of the Council of People's Commissars and Council of Labor and Defense
and simultaneously as secretary to V. I. Lenin.
³ On the same day V. I. Lenin sent a similar request to V. A. Kugushev, who headed the procurement department
in Ufa Province (see V. I. Lenin. Collected Works, vol. 51, pp. 75—76).
⁴ M. V. Kotomkin wrote about this in his memoirs:

"I replied to Vladimir Ilyich's letter and promised him that I would thoroughly feed up Lidia Aleksandrovna Fotieva,
who had wasted away in Moscow. I fulfilled this promise.

Almost at the same time as this letter from Lenin, I received a letter from Aleksandr Dmitrievich Tsyurupa. It was
dated 30 October 1919 and written in red ink personally by Tsyurupa on plain stationery without any stamp. Here
is the content of this letter:

'Most esteemed Mikhail Vasilievich! I add my request to Vladimir Ilyich's request. Take care of Comrade Fotieva.
Provide her with everything she needs, not hesitating at the fact that her resources will be exceeded. Outside the
rules, give her what she needs (more fats of all kinds and sugar), and record it to credit. Dig it up from under the ground,
deliver her all that is necessary. For workers and party comrades like her cannot be duplicated. By all means get her back
on her feet. Please, Mikhail Vasilievich. I know you have enough to do as it is, and yet I turn to you, because there are
not many like Fotieva, comrades who have deserved well of the revolution. Accept my sincere greetings. I shake your hand.
A. Tsyurupa.'

What a huge responsive heart, what tenderness and purity toward others one must have in order to relate so carefully
and sensitively to people!" (Institute of Marxism-Leninism under the Central Committee of the CPSU. Archive of unpublished
memoirs about V. I. Lenin. M. V. Kotomkin. From Memoirs of Lenin, pp. 12—14).

TELEGRAM TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE KALUGA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

To Kaluga

Telegram lit. A.

To the Chairman of the Executive Committee
Copy to the Chairman of the Provincial Cheka

Immediately telegraph the Kremlin, to me, what charges you bring against the head
of the Department of Child Nutrition under the Provincial Department of Education,
Anna Tolstaya¹. Why did you conduct a search?

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars: Lenin
Moscow, Kremlin.

28 October 1919

Printed from typescript text corrected and signed by V. I. Lenin

¹ A. I. Kholmberg-Tolstaya worked in the Kaluga provincial department of education from 16 November 1918
first as a typist, then as head of the subsection of child nutrition. In response to V. I. Lenin's telegram inquiry, apparently no answer came from Kaluga. This is indicated by the fact that the Presidium of the All-Russian Central
Executive Committee sent two more inquiries on this matter to the Kaluga provincial executive committee and provincial Cheka. After a second inquiry from the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of
18 November 1919, an answer was finally received from the Kaluga provincial Cheka of 20 November 1919. It reported
that the search at A. I. Kholmberg-Tolstaya's was conducted on the basis of information about her membership in the
Cadet party. By decision of the collegium of Kaluga provincial department of education of 4 October 1919, A. I.
Kholmberg-Tolstaya was sent on assignment to Moscow for two weeks to urgently clarify the question of child nutrition.
She did not return to Kaluga from this assignment. Information about her further fate could not be found.

ORDER TO THE SECRETARY

[14 November 1919]

Get in contact with Vladimirsky²: what is the result?

¹ The order to the secretary was written by V. I. Lenin on a copy of a telegram received by him from M. A. Mineev,
deputy chairman of the Melekes district executive committee, dated 13 November 1919. The telegram reported that V. K. Zelentzov,
representative of the Samara provincial food commissariat in Melekes, despite V. I. Lenin's telegram of 4 November 1919 to
the executive committees of Krasnoufimsk, Bugulma, Sarapul, Melekes, and Zlatoust concerning the adoption of a resolution
of the Council of Labor and Defense on the organization of sanitary camps for typhus patients (see "V. I. Lenin and Tataria.
Collection of Documents, Materials and Memoirs." Kazan, 1964, pp. 78—79), is obstructing the equipping of sanitary camps,
refusing to issue the necessary materials for this which are at his disposal, as well as food products for typhus patients. Mineev
reported that the executive committee would be forced to take repressive measures against Zelentzov. On the telegram is a note,
apparently made in the secretary's hand: "Proposal sent to Council of Defense 19/XI under No. 57/35574 on bringing Comrade
Zelentzov to trial."

² M. F. Vladimirsky — member of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, deputy people's
commissar of internal affairs.

NOTE TO A. D. TSYURUPA
AND ORDER TO THE SECRETARY

[15 November 1919]

Comrade Tsyurupa! Urgent measures are needed!!!
What will you do?

Urgently get in contact with Krasin².

¹ The note and order were written on a copy of a telegram from S. V. Sazhin, deputy chairman of the board
of the Kizel coal mines, addressed to the Council of Defense. The board of the mines, in view of irregular supply
of food to the mine workers by the Perm provincial food commissariat and the consequent decline in mine productivity,
requested permission to designate a special mail train consisting of 15 cars and a locomotive to run regularly between
Kizel and a grain depot in Zaural under special protection of its own brigade. A copy of the telegram with V. I. Lenin's
note was sent to A. D. Tsyurupa. On it is Tsyurupa's response: "Here the question is one of transport, not supply. The food
commissariat can actually satisfy the needs of the mines. It is necessary to organize delivery (from Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk
districts)." The Chelyabinsk district was given an order for 16,000 puds of grain for workers of the Kizel mines, which
equaled two months' worth of their consumption.

² L. B. Krasin — people's commissar of paths of communication.

ORDER TO THE SECRETARY

[1919, not earlier than 17 November]

This is very important! Send copies to Comrade Trotsky for all
members of the Politburo.

¹ The order was written by V. I. Lenin on an "Extract from the intelligence summary of 17 November at 6 o'clock,"
which reported on partial fraternization of Red Army soldiers with Polish soldiers and lower ranks of the Polish command
of the 24th Polish Regiment in the area of the city of Diena. The extract also told of the 23rd Polish Regiment's declaration
that it wanted to defend Red Poland and refused to relieve the 24th Regiment, of manifestations in Grodno with demands
to remove insignia from Polish officers, etc.

NOTES ON A TELEGRAM FROM BELYNICHS
AND NOTE TO A. I. SVIDERSKY

[27 November 1919]

Extraordinary, Moscow only
Council of People's Commissars, to Comrade Lenin

From Belynichs
Received 27/XI—19 at 9 o'clock 56 minutes

Telegram

Urgent, Moscow, Council of People's Commissars, to Comrade Lenin, copy
to People's Commissariat of Food, Commissar Tsyurupa, copy Gomel,
provincial food commissar Indenbom. Answer.

In accordance with the circular telegram announced in the newspaper
"Economic Life" No. 236 of 22/XI concerning concessions to peasants
for regular fulfillment of the requisition of grain surplus for this year,
the Belynichs local Soviet of Mogilev District fulfilled the requisition
completely by 1 November of this year, on which there is a certificate
issued by the food commissariat brigade 3/52 of 29 October of this year
under No. 1413. We applied to the district food commissariat for the
remission of pounds for grain milling based on the circular. The latter
refused, arguing that not all districts in the district have fulfilled [their
requisitions]. Dissatisfied with the answer of the district food
commissariat,
we are telegraphing
to You, and if the above-
named circular is being carried out, then
to Svidersky:
the motive is
false

we request that it be extended to our population, concerning which
we request notification by telegram...

Chairman of Belynichs Local Soviet: Korunitsyn

¹ A. I. Svidersky — member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Food. Below the text of the telegram
is his response to V. I. Lenin: "The actions of the district food commissariat are incorrect if the requisition was fulfilled at 100%.
It is not necessary to wait for fulfillment of the requisition throughout the district. The district food commissariat has been
given an appropriate warning. A. I. Svidersky."

² Apparently, after reviewing A. I. Svidersky's response, V. I. Lenin crossed out the text of his note and made a note on
the telegram: "to archives."

TELEGRAM TO I. N. SMIRNOV

17. X I I . 1919

Confidential
Note time of receipt
Omsk
Revolutionary Military Council 5
To Smirnov

I request you to report whether Viktor Kotovich-Sammer¹ is alive and where he is located,
political commissar in the 51st Division of the 3rd Army.

Lenin

¹ V. I. Kotovich-Sammer was head of the agitation-organizational department of the political department of the 51st
Rifle Division of the 3rd Army of the Eastern Front.

ORDER TO L. B. KRASIN AND S. D. MARKOV
AND NOTES ON A TELEGRAM FROM SIBERIA

[19 December 1919]

To Krasin and Markov¹:
urgent measures are needed.
What are you doing?

Lenin

N B
No heading.
To Lenin only.
Received 18/XII.
Urgent.

Telegram

Moscow, to Lenin, to Predreventsovet
of the Republic to Trotsky at his location

I report that from the station Chulym to Novosibirsk and
further the army has captured: a continuous stream of echelons,
by approximate count in the amount of twenty thousand
cars and three hundred locomotives, 50% loaded with all kinds
of military property. For the protection of echelons one rifle
regiment, two special-purpose detachments and a workers'
brigade have been assigned. Wholly captured: an automobile
section with workshops, managements of artillery workshops,
an aviation section, a department of the topographical section
of the Omsk military district, Omsk uniforms workshop with
500 machines, the American Red Cross, a railway recovery
detachment, entire echelons of machine sections, a radio station
with management, many echelons with cargo of the Naval Ministry,
an information section of the front with a printing plant, all
supply sections of the 2nd and 3rd Armies, several equipped
sanitarium trains, in enormous quantities of ammunition,
an intact armored train, a second undermined, 88 guns, a quantity
of machine guns that so far cannot be accounted for, several cars
with bomb-throwers and mortars, more than 200 automobiles
and motorcycles, two aeroplanes, motorboats, in enormous
quantities wheeled trains, Ufa branch of the State Bank and up to forty million Siberian monetary notes and a mass of other property.
Taken prisoner wholly: the 3rd Novosibirsk Regiment, the 2nd Barabinsk
Regiment, which had risen against Kolchak before the arrival of red troops,
a marching reserve battalion, remnants of 13 regiments in the amount of
900 people, a separate sappers unit, five regimental orchestras, over 10,000
prisoners, officers numbering more than five companies, among them generals
and colonels, agents of information bureaus and counter-intelligence, editor
of the newspaper "Russian Army," known right Socialist-Revolutionary, an
emigrant who fled with the bourgeoisie. The 12-sazhens bridge spans across
the Ob have been blown up, movement will be restored within a week. However,
in view of the absence of fuel on the section Chulym — Novosibirsk, the
locomotives will have to be cooled down. The pitiful remnants of Kolchak's
army are ceaselessly pursued further east.

Revolutionary Military Council 7 Smirnov, Gryunshtein

N B

¹ L. B. Krasin — people's commissar of paths of communication.
S. D. Markov — deputy people's commissar of paths of communication.

² In carrying out V. I. Lenin's order, S. D. Markov on 19 December 1919 sent to the Revolutionary Military Council
of the Eastern Front, Revolutionary Military Council of the 5th Army and others a telegram proposing to immediately
send 200 locomotives captured in the Novosibirsk region westward, using them simultaneously for delivering military
echelons and trains with food supplies. On the same day S. D. Markov addressed a written request to V. I. Lenin asking him
to confirm the necessity of urgent fulfillment of the People's Commissariat of Paths of Communication's telegram. This
relation of Markov's contains inscriptions and underlining made by V. I. Lenin.

NOTE TO A. I. SVIDERSKY

[25 December 1919]

From Lyudinovo
25 [December 1919] 14 o'clock 20 minutes
received 25/XII—19 at 18 o'clock 53 minutes

Telegram

Moscow, urgent, Council of People's Commissars, People's Commissariat of Food
To Svidersky:
Due to lack of food the workers of
what has been done?¹ Lyudinovo — Sukremly
factory are exhausted,
mortality compared to June of this year has increased
by 600%, there are cases
of fainting and even death
at work. The Plenum of the Lyudinovo organization demands
the resolution to issue to workers the grain collected
by the Lyudinovo district food commissariat by the general state
requisition in the amount of 200 puds.
The failure to take measures to supply the factory workers with
food threatens to bring about a shutdown of the factory,
despite the presence of raw materials and fuel for the first
half of 1920. Request answer by telegram.

Executive Committee of Lyudinovo-Kaluga
Chairman of the Plenum Ovchinkin

¹ A copy of the telegram from the executive committee of Lyudinovo Soviet of Kaluga Province was directed to People's
Commissar of Food A. D. Tsyurupa. On it is a resolution from Tsyurupa: "Telegraph the Provincial Food Commissariat
to take measures, urgently check the status of the factory's supply and in case of catastrophic [conditions] — issue 200 puds of meat.
A. Tsyurupa. 26/XII."

ORDER TO THE SECRETARY

28 December 1919

Get in contact with Chutskaev², write down the answer,
demand official information on shipment.

¹ The order was written on a telegram from the chairman of the extraordinary commission on fuel Solovyev and the
authorized representative for Mologh District Andaburg in the Council of Defense from Mologa, Yaroslavl Province,
requesting the supply of monetary signs to the local treasury and to reserve them for the entire duration of work on timber
felling.

² S. E. Chutskaev — member of the collegium and deputy people's commissar of finance, member of the collegium of
the board of the People's Bank.

DISTRIBUTION TO SECRETARY
[December 1919, no earlier than the 28th]
Draft

Vladimir Ilyich! To your 
information I am sending 
this copy of the radio 
transmitted by me to Milyutin.
F. Syromolotov.
28/XII - 19.

1) Make a copy of both documents and send to Chicherin so that he can get in touch with Syromolotov.

2) Tell Syromolotov about this.

Inflammable shales of the Volga basin, which have been exploited for several months on a large scale at two points near Simbirsk and Syzrani, were subjected to testing on an industrial scale at the gas station in Moscow under the supervision of engineer Dvorkovitch from England and under the control of responsible chemists of the chemical department of the Supreme Council of the National Economy. The station supplied Moscow with gas from shales for approximately two days. The results of this experiment are as follows: 1 pood of shale yields 144 cubic feet of combustible gas, the calorific value of which is 4600 calories per 1 cubic meter of gas. The composition of the gas fully meets fuel and lighting purposes. In addition to the experiment of burning shale into gas, experiments were conducted on an industrial scale at three Moscow factories for obtaining gas tar from shale at low temperature. The yield of tar equals 15% of all shales. The distillation of tar into fractions yielded results entirely favorable for technical purposes. Thus, the colossal reserves of combustible shale in the Volga basin, their successful exploitation and the results achieved from industrial experiments provide full grounds to count on significant heat resources for Soviet Russia, posing a new task of organizing the electrification and gas industry of the Volga basin for the industrial needs of Soviet Russia. This new conquest of the economic life of the country of workers and peasants, under the conditions of the Entente blockade, through their labor discipline and their inexhaustible energy, is being transformed into a mighty means for the conquest and consolidation of power and for the final triumph over the overthrown bourgeoisie.

F. Syromolotov

Vladimir Ilyich!

P.S. Would it not be expedient to arrange a competition by radio among engineers from Scotland for the construction and equipment of the factory? In the entire world only Scotland is working in this direction with shales. Under favorable conditions we could obtain both finished equipment of all factory installations from Scotland. There is some friction between them and England, and perhaps it would be useful to throw this stone into England's rear.

28/XII - 19. F. Syromolotov.

---

NOTE TO M. YU. KOZLOVSKII

31. XII. 1919

Comrade Kozlovskii!

I am returning it. Hopeless. I spoke yesterday with the Central Committee people. They have a different plan. All these questions will be decided (differently) by the Orgburo. It is hopeless to submit such a project there. Direct all such proposals, all complaints, acts, documents and so forth directly to Stasova or Krestiinskii for the Orgburo.

Your Lenin

---

NOTE TO A. D. TSYURUPA

[No earlier than December 31, 1919]

Reported to the Politburo. Rattel is not a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic; he should have been included in the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic and henceforth should be included in the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic. Trotsky will speak with you.

Lenin

---

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH E. M. SKLYANSKII
[1919-1920]

Rakovsky requires a submarine. We must give 2, appointing a responsible person, a sailor, charging him and saying: we will shoot him if he doesn't deliver quickly. The only route for dispatch is by rail. Large boats are unsuitable. Small finished ones don't exist and, it seems, there are none at all. At one point it was planned to send the Saratov boat, but it is for Astrakhan. Tomorrow I will gather precise information and do everything possible.

---

YEAR 1920

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN
[January 2, 1920]

Comrade Chicherin! Your opinion? In my view, 8–10 hours will suffice. There are no locomotives. Crisis.

With comrade greetings, Lenin

---

NOTES ON SUPPLEMENTING THE COMMISSION REGARDING THE QUESTION OF REORGANIZING THE COMMITTEE OF COMMUNICATIONS

[January 10, 1920]

TO AN UNIDENTIFIED RECIPIENT

We must supplement yesterday's commission:
1) With Rosengolts
2) With a representative of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions.

TO A. P. ROSENGOLTS

And what about including a representative of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions?

---

NOTE TO S. D. MARKOV

[January 12, 1920]

To Markov:
1) Have they been brought to trial?
2) Send to the Council of People's Commissars a document with precise indication: who (name, position) have been brought to trial?

---

TELEGRAM TO I. N. SMIRNOV

[January 12, 1920]

I will immediately transmit your telegram to Trotsky and Krestiinskii. We will send the reply by separate telegram. Let us know where to address it for you. Direct maximum attention to the accelerated dispatch of the greatest number of locomotives to us and take revolutionary measures.

Lenin

---

DISTRIBUTION TO SECRETARY

Send a copy to Sviderskii with a request to inform me what measures he has taken.

12/I [1920]

Lenin

---

NOTE TO L. D. TROTSKY
[January 1920, no later than the 12th]

Comrade Trotsky! How should we proceed here? Perhaps you would request the military censor (under your and my signature, with a copy to the provincial executive committee), and send me his reply?

Lenin

---

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SECRETARY

1) Ask Eiduk:
1) Who is the author of this note
2) What evidence is there of his conscientiousness
3) And of his experience and knowledge?

14/I 1920
Lenin

---

Send for information to all members of the collegium of the Commissariat of Ways of Communication.

14/I

Lenin

---

NOTE TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY

Comrade Dzerzhinsky!
I request that you order an investigation.

16/I 1920

Lenin

---

NOTE TO A. V. GALKIN

Comrade Galkin! I request you to summon the appropriate commissariats and as soon as possible consider this project in the Small Council.

24/I [1920]

Lenin

---

LETTER TO M. I. LACIS

25. I. 1920

Comrade Lacis!
Discuss the question of publishing information from Rostov-on-Don. Regarding the Socialist Revolutionaries, it is necessary to systematically collect all materials, leaflets and so forth and preserve them. Who wrote the letter to Chernov?

Lenin

---

TELEGRAM TO A. A. IOFFE

Ioffe
Yuryev

In response to your 133 I agree with the tactics of the Commissar of Foreign Affairs, which the Politburo has discussed and approved. It is impossible to change them. Specific particular concessions are still possible, but they must be negotiated separately.

January 25, 1920

Lenin

---

NOTE TO AN UNIDENTIFIED RECIPIENT
[February 1920, later than the 16th]

If so, give me a telegram to sign to Gukovskii:

1) Do not hesitate, and buy good things (according to such and such a list: there was a list after all) immediately, without fear of overpayment
2) once a week send a brief report:
   proposed—
   ordered—very briefly.
   requested—

---

RESOLUTION ON A DRAFT DECISION OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b)
[1920, later than February 20]

I agree to its confirmation as a directive of the Central Committee.

Comrade Lenin

---

DISTRIBUTION TO SECRETARY
[February 1920, no earlier than the 27th]

Preserve and request Khalatov, let his secretary send us a written statement (of what was given).

In folder: food for teachers.

---

TELEGRAM TO THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE 6TH ARMY TO N. N. KUZMIN

Revolutionary Military Council 6th Army
Kuzmin

Approximately March 3 a delegation of representatives of all commissariats departs for Arkhangelsk, among whom Lomov and Eiduk are traveling. We propose that you postpone your departure until their arrival in Arkhangelsk and clarification of affairs together with them in the Northern region.

28/II 20

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

---

RESOLUTION ON A TELEGRAM FROM ARKHANGELSK
[1920, no earlier than February 28]

To Tsyurupa, Rykov for information (Bryukhanov, Krasin) need orders for swift evacuation. What are your orders?

---

NOTE TO N. N. KRESTIINSKII
[March 1920, no earlier than the 16th—no later than the 18th]

To Krestiinskii: How do you decide? Should we not put it before the Council of People's Commissars?

---

LETTER TO S. D. MARKOV
23. III. 1920

Dear Comrade Markov!

I have received your letter. By now you have surely received the extract from the decision of the Politburo. It was late, apparently due to the fault of the chancellery.

Rest and take it most seriously as necessary for you. Experienced and knowledgeable working forces must be preserved with utmost care. And after the conclusion of the "temporary" administration in the Commissariat of Ways of Communication and after Krasin's return, the question will be reconsidered in the Central Committee regarding the entire Commissariat of Ways of Communication.

With comradely greetings and wishes for you to rest as you should.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

---

ANNOTATION ON A NOTE BY L. B. KRASIN
TO A DRAFT REGULATION ON THE PROCEDURE FOR CONDUCTING NEGOTIATIONS ON TRADE AGREEMENTS

[March 1920, no earlier than the 24th]

This is necessary for the protection of the rights of the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs.

---

RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FOR AN AUDIENCE
[March 28, 1920]

I cannot see anyone right now. I request you to note the telephone numbers by which Lenin can be reached or where he can be found.

---

NOTE TO N. N. KRESTIINSKII
[1920, no later than March]

If she does not want to leave, we will give (through the Orgburo) an order to give her bread, butter, meat, otherwise she will die from exhaustion.

---

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH A. L. SHEINMAN AND E. M. SKLYANSKII
[March 1920]

The German firm "Michler," which supplied us with airplanes and medicines for them, proposes to send a cargo zeppelin to Moscow at the end of April—useful cargo 300 tons = 18,000 poods. Condition: a guarantee that the vessel will not be detained and will be released within 24 hours after arrival.
(Zeppelins cannot stand in open air).

Sklyanskii does not object.

Sheinman

Gukovskii has purchased 80,000 poods of paper.

Take written consent from Sklyanskii and accept it.

When delivery?
How payment?

[Reply of E. M. Sklyanskii]

1. In principle I don't object, but I can only give consent after clarifying the possibility of fulfilling on time.
2. It is desirable that the ship be unarmed. This I told Sheinman.

It is necessary to work out precise conditions (of course, unarmed: inspection, etc.) and accept.

---

RESOLUTION OF A COMMISSION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
14. IV. 1920

Inasmuch as at the session of the commission appointed by the Council of People's Commissars to consider the draft resolution on Sovtrudarme, it was discovered that commission member Comrade Rykov arrived one and a half hours late (scheduled for 6:30 p.m., arrived at 7 p.m.), and the commission unanimously recognized his reasons for tardiness as unjustified, the commission resolved to apply to Comrade Rykov the decree on tardiness.

Chairman of the Commission V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

---

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN
[April 16, 1920]

Comrade Chicherin!
Please order a more thorough verification.
After all, this would be a real scandal if it is so?!

Your Lenin

---

NOTE TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY
[April 16, 1920]

Comrade Dzerzhinsky!
This is an agitated response from Chicherin to my angry note. It turns out he is not at fault. We really must help him with people.

Lenin

---

DISTRIBUTION TO SECRETARY
[April 1920, no earlier than the 21st]

I request you to get in touch (and obtain agreement) both with Zinovyev and with Chutskayev.

---

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN
[Early May 1920]

Comrade Chicherin!
I am very grateful for the notes to the manuscript. I am prepared to write: let us speak by phone today itself, if you find this necessary now.

Your Lenin

---

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN
[May 5, 1920]

To Chicherin: So on Sunday they took Kiev? Yesterday, May 4, I received information from Kiev from Felix Kon. Should we not expose the lie?

---

NOTE TO L. M. KARAKHAN

5/V 1920

Comrade Karakhan!
I very much request that you obtain for me the Manchester Guardian from 16/III with an interview from Rome (with Turatti)—excerpts in your Bulletin of the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, No. 7 (25.IV).

Your Lenin

---

LETTER TO M. KAMENEV

Dear Comrade Kamenev!

Your last conversation with me was very disturbing. I spoke with a very knowledgeable and experienced doctor, whom I have every reason to trust completely and who had the opportunity to learn from your treating physicians about the actual state of your health.

I have learned in this manner with absolute certainty that your situation is far from hopeless. Your illness is completely curable. Therefore I advise you most urgently to pull yourself together, cast off all gloomy thoughts, do not allow yourself to indulge in hypochondria, and patiently undergo treatment. You will recover for certain if you obey.

And you must recover all the more because revolutionaries who know English well and the American movement, and who also have the ability to read in Russian and German, are very few. Such workers are especially needed and must especially take care of themselves.

So treat yourself patiently—and you will recover for certain.

May 8, 1920.
All the best! Your Lenin

---

RESPONSE TO A NOTE ON THE DIRECT LINE FROM THE COMMANDER OF THE FOOD ROUTE EZHOV
[May 8, 1920]

I will now make all inquiries and, having received them, will answer you by urgent telegram.

Lenin

---

TELEGRAM TO SAMARA FOOD COMMISSAR
[May 1920, later than the 8th]

Samara Food Commissar,
Commander of the Ivanovo-Voznesensk Food Route Ezhov

Immediately load the food route of the Ivanovo-Voznesensk Food Commissariat No. 198, commander Ezhov, with grain, in the quantity of 40 cars, direct it to the address of the Ivanovo-Voznesensk Food Commissariat. The execution of the military order of May 4 No. 246 must not violate the loading of the food route of workers' organizations formed in accordance with the agreement of December 11, 1919.

Chairman of the Council of Defense: Lenin

---

NOTE TO L. A. FOTIEVA
[May 1920, no later than the 8th]

Obtain for me (through Klinger) Waltman's report on South Africa.

---

NOTE TO SECRETARY

10. V. 20

Tell Zinovyev that I have received the first part of the proofs and request that he send me the Italian newspaper "Avanti" and the journal "Comunismo".

Lenin

---

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN
[Between May 11 and 15, 1920]

In my opinion, do not allow it.
It is necessary to discuss this in the Orgburo and Politburo.
Forward to Preobrazhenskii.

---

NOTE TO A. L. SHEINMAN
ON THE REPORT NOTE OF THE MEXICAN CONSULATE

Comrade Sheinman!
I request you to direct attention to this matter and give me your assessment, orally at our meeting, or in a couple of words of a note.

13/V [1920]

Your Lenin

MANAGER OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS REPORT NOTE

The Mexican Republic possesses enormous natural riches, an extensive and wealthy industry, and an enormous quantity of finished goods and manufactures of which Soviet Russia is now in need. Mexico exported to the Northern United States and, chiefly to Germany, annually more than 600,000,000 pesos (pesos at the exchange rate—2.66 francs, gold): 1) Fleece wool—Spanish, woolen and cotton yarn, cotton, cotton and woolen manufactures. 2) Cocoa, coffee, sugar cane. 3) Chemical, mineral and vegetable dyes (birthplace of cochineal). 4) Paper from wrapping to parchment. 5) Medicines and medicinal herbs (birthplace of the quinine tree) in all varieties and types. 6) Oils—petroleum (gasoline, kerosene) and vegetable—and chemical. 7) Leather and finished shoes (famous buffalo leather footwear), machine and driving belts. 8) Tobacco in all its varieties (famous German cigars). 9) Metals, mercury, steel, silver and others. 10) Metal manufactures: locomotives, cars, agricultural implements and machinery. 11) Woodworking products: mahogany, rosewood, black wood and oak wood. 12) Automobiles and automobile parts (famous "Mercedes"). 13) Oil and oil products (famous oil sources "Tampico"). 14) Technical construction and sanitary items and various other items and products.

All of this was purchased by America, and especially by Germany, at very low and cheap prices, and resold chiefly to Russia and to other states at high prices.

In view of the destruction of the merchant fleet and the destruction of the commercial apparatus with Mexico, Germany has been deprived of the ability to continue extensive trade, and Mexico, unwilling to hand over its manufactures, goods and natural riches to America, as the country constantly oppressing it, is now forced to seek other markets for the sale of its goods. Russia is the only advantageous market for it, where it can sell all of its production. If we add to this that Mexico, as a maritime state, having loaded a steamship with goods in any of its harbors in the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans, by which it is washed, can deliver its goods without transshipment with extremely insignificant expenses and with an abundance of petroleum to any of Russia's harbors or ports, one can imagine all the advantages of such an economic union of both countries. And Mexico possesses a fairly significant merchant marine tonnage, and the tonnage of Holland and other neutral states can also be at its service.

Beyond this, Mexico has a large quantity of goods already delivered by it to Germany, in the warehouses of its maritime missions in Germany, Holland and other points, capable of being immediately, as from a neutral country, placed at Russia's disposal through the efforts of the Mexicans.

Moreover, it must be borne in mind that the friendly relations of the Mexican Republic to Russia have not ceased to this time.

At present the consul of Mexico in Moscow is organizing a Russian-Mexican Commercial Chamber (Russomex), as an apparatus of action for the economic union of both republics, which should promote the broad development of commercial relations between both countries and which is now already, in the person of the Consulate, ready to take all measures for the delivery to Russia of all necessary goods through exchange or by other methods possible and advantageous to Russia.

Upon receipt of your principal agreement to our proposal, the Consulate will immediately send its experienced staff for this purpose to Mexico, Holland and Germany, confirming that all personnel, methods and conditions of work for the transportation of goods are completely ready.

Said staff will work out there, on the spot, on the part of Mexico and the neutral states mentioned in the report all details from the technical, commercial and financial aspects, and then will immediately take all measures for the delivery to Russia of Mexican goods already in neutral states, repeating that the methods of payment for goods, exchange of them for Russian raw materials, questions concerning currency will be worked out in the interests of both countries.

At present it is important for us only to have the principal agreement of the Soviet Republic to our proposal, after which all other questions and details will be promptly established with conditions and methods equally advantageous to both sides.

General Consulate of the Mexican Republic in Moscow:
Commercial Agents at the Consulate: (signature)
Manager of Affairs: (signature)

---

NOTE TO V. A. AVANESOV

Comrade Avanesov!
In my view, these comrades should be given machines. Let us discuss this matter in the Council of Defense.

14/V [1920]

Your Lenin

---

NOTE TO V. D. BONCH-BRUEVICH

14. V. 1920

Comrade
Comrade Vladimir Dmitrievich!

I request you to order that from the automobile base of the Council of People's Commissars they provide automobiles on call to:
1) Member of the collegium of the Commissariat of Consumer Goods Comrade Nikolayev,
2) Comrade Stepan Ivanovich Botin (Botin).

This is necessary, temporarily, in view of the commissions given by me to them.

Your Lenin

---

NOTE TO A. S. ENUKIDZE

14. V. 1920

Comrade Enukidze!
I very much request you not to refuse an order that from the garage of the All-Union Council of the National Economy automobiles be provided on call to:
1) Member of the collegium of the Commissariat of Consumer Goods Comrade Nikolayev;
2) Stepan Ivanovich Botin.

This is temporary, I hope, not for long; in view of the special commission given by me to them.

Greetings!

Your Lenin

---

NOTE TO I. K. KSENOFONTOV

To the Cheka Comrade Ksenofontov! I request you in the most urgent manner to find out what the matter is (if necessary, request from Peter by telephone today itself), and give me your assessment as accurately as possible.

"Return this."

14/V. 1920

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

---

NOTE TO E. M. SKLYANSKII
[May 1920, no later than the 22nd]

Comrade Sklyanskii! Be so good as to order the dispatch of this telegram and check the delivery.

Your Lenin

---

NOTE TO I. E. GUKOVSKII

22/V 1920

Comrade Gukovskii!
I request you, if it will not be inconvenient, to obtain—probably it is possible to order directly?—books, about which my wife requests (for the External Education Department of the Commissariat of Education) according to the attached list.

Your Lenin

Lenin, for better information of the Politburo.

A Commission created by the Central Committee (or the Secretary of the Central Committee?) asks Comrade Lomonosov to write today or tomorrow briefly:

1) his party record up to 1905, in 1905 and later
2) technical record — years and place of work briefly
3) names of party (and most prominent non-party) workers with whom you have come into contact at work (year and place) both in the first and in the second field of activity*.

22/V 1920

Lenin

1 Y. V. Lomonosov — member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Railways; plenipotentiary of the Council of People's Commissars for railway orders abroad.

NOTE TO E. M. SKLYANSKY

25.V. 1920

Comrade Sklyansky!

I ask you to give to the bearer, Comrade Belenky (from the VChK), all mandates or letters, if needed — to all artillery depots, institutions, arms reserves, powder stores, etc., for verification of their security in the Serebryany Bor district and the vicinity of Moscow².

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars and the Council of Defense V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

1 A. Y. Belenky worked in the VChK.
2 In connection with the increasing number of fires in major centers within the zone declared under martial law, on May 25, 1920, at a session of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b), a decision was adopted to entrust the People's Commissariat of the RCP jointly with the military department and local organs of the VChK to strengthen the security of military facilities, arms depots, powder stores, etc., as well as to conduct surprise inspections of such facilities.

* On the side of the document, in V. I. Lenin's handwriting: "Sent 22/V 1920".

The Lenin Miscellany XXXVII

THE LENIN MISCELLANY

NOTE TO A. I. SVIDERSKYY OR A. B. KHALATOV

Comrade Sviderskyy (or Comrade Khalatov), I ask you to make all inquiries: how much has been given, how much will be given, and provide a (precise) answer tomorrow.

26/V [1920]

Lenin

Printed from the typescript

1 A. B. Khalatov — member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Food, chairman of the commission of the Council of People's Commissars on workers' supply.

The note was written on a report from the Chief Directorate of Forest Industry to the manager of the affairs of the Council of People's Commissars V. D. Bonch-Bruevich concerning the possibility and necessity of transporting one million poods of grain by water to the northern gubernias to supply logging and fuel organizations.

On May 28, Khalatov submitted to V. I. Lenin a report on the question of granting the Chief Directorate of Forest Industry the right to transport by water one million poods of grain and forage, and reported that he was unable to present the report by the appointed time, as all correspondence reached him only on the evening of May 27. Khalatov also reported that the People's Commissariat of Food found it impossible to fulfill the request of the Chief Directorate of Forest Industry, in view of the fact that it is supplied according to plan and primarily through the People's Commissariat of Food, sometimes even to the detriment of other consumers. On the transmittal note from Khalatov, Lenin wrote: "I ask the Small Soviet to examine this matter. 2. VI. 1920" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism under the Central Committee of the CPSU).

NOTE TO I. K. KSENOFONTOV

Comrade Ksenofontov!

Pay attention. Send me:
1) a copy of your order on this matter;
2) a copy of your written agreement with Lyubovich concerning measures to prevent future abuses¹.

29/V [1920]

Lenin

1 Written on a statement from Deputy People's Commissar of Posts A. M. Lyubovich to the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. I. Lenin, a copy to the Deputy Chairman of the VChK I. K. Ksenofontov, complaining about VChK organs submitting to the telegraph long-winded and carelessly composed encrypted telegrams. On the back of the second sheet of the statement there is a resolution by V. I. Lenin: "To Lidia Aleksandrovna for review".

1920

NOTE TO L. A. FOTIEVA

[June 1, 1920]

Lidia Aleksandrovna!

1) Put it on tomorrow's agenda
2) give here, right now to all members of the Council of Defense so they sign that they have read it and will give their opinion tomorrow!

Lenin

1 The note was written on a request from P. I. Popov, who headed the Central Statistical Administration, to put the question of providing paper for the Central Statistical Administration on the agenda of the Council of Labor and Defense. On June 2, at a session of the Council of Workers' and Peasants' Defense, a decision was adopted: "Instruct the presidium of the Supreme Council of the National Economy to urgently allocate to the Central Statistical Administration the necessary materials for paper mills" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism under the Central Committee of the CPSU).

NOTE TO S. E. CHUTSKAYEV

To Chutskayev

Urgent for opinion

1) How much are you giving? Will you give?
2) What is to be conducted through the Council of People's Commissars?

2/VI [1920]

Lenin

1 Written on a request from the Council of People's Commissars of Ukraine to V. I. Lenin for the urgent passage through the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR of additional appropriations for the gubernias of the Ukrainian SSR of 20 billion rubles for the first half of 1920.

Member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Finance of the RSFSR S. E. Chutskayev reported that 40,702 million rubles had been sent to Ukraine from December 1919 to May 1920, 8 billion rubles are sent monthly; it is planned to continue sending at the same rate. If the productivity of the State Printing Office is increased, the sum of monetary signs directed to Ukraine will be increased.

8*

THE LENIN MISCELLANY

INTERVIEW WITH NORWEGIAN ARCHIVIST Y. FRIIS

LENIN ON THE TACTICS OF COMMUNISTS

Friis: Would you recommend to us, for example, to begin immediately collecting arms in our Norway? Our tactics (in Norway) are calculated to obtain influence in the army with the help of soldiers' councils. Is this, in your opinion, an incorrect tactic?

Lenin replied: No, not in the least. It is necessary to use the legal path as long as it is only possible. On the other hand, I consider that a "Communist Party" conducting exclusively legal work does not rightly bear its name. What should be done in each particular case is a practical question. Such is also the question of participation in elections to parliament. In general, we have always been for participation in elections, however, in exceptional circumstances, for example in the elections to the First Duma, we were for a boycott². Anti-parliamentarianism — one of the infantile disorders of communism, against which I have often had to struggle. In Italy, this disorder is widespread. There is even a party newspaper there bearing the name "Il Soviet"³ (Naples), the organ of communist abstentionists, i.e., opponents of participation in elections. With us, as you know, on analogous questions I had to wage a struggle against Bukharin and Radek⁴. I was opposed to the idea that we should immediately overthrow the Kerensky government, and I was for the Brest-Litovsk peace⁵. Later they openly admitted they were mistaken, and Radek was instructed so well that better than anyone else he fought against the anti-parliamentary direction in Germany, against Laufenberg, Wolfheim⁶, and the Hamburg communists⁷.

If we generalize, then in my opinion, it is necessary at the present moment:
1) struggle against Mensheviks,
2) struggle against infantile disorders among the ranks of left socialists.

Friis: What brief characteristic would you give them? Can one call this — revolutionary romanticism?

Lenin: Yes, quite correct. But of course, we cannot do without romanticism. Better an excess of it than a lack. We have always sympathized with revolutionary romantics, even when we disagreed with them. For example, we have always refrained from individual terror. But we have always expressed our admiration for the personal courage of the terrorists and their readiness for sacrifice. Our point of view was: first, a strict analysis of economic relations, and then prove your conviction by personal example. If I were, for example, now in England, I would be decidedly opposed to a boycott of the Labour Party⁸, and I would vote for the Henderson government⁹, but at the same time I would say openly: "let them show themselves in practice". It would quickly be understood that the path of reforms is impossible after the devastations of war. Revolution will come inevitably in all countries, however, in Western European countries it will probably occur more easily than it did with us. They have, after all, completely different organizing forces from what we had to cope with this. For now, Russia is ahead. But after the revolution comes to Western Europe, Russia will soon fall behind.

And how is the situation with the intelligentsia in Norway; is it very reactionary?

Friis: Recently it has become better. Great interest has been aroused especially by the French movement "Clarté". After French writers began to become "Bolsheviks", Norwegian ones will soon follow suit. But, it is possible, this is merely a fashionable movement, which cannot be much relied upon. I think, however, that among engineers there is a genuinely progressive movement.

Lenin: Yes, they everywhere are partly on our side. In Germany there will soon also be, so to speak, an engineer proletariat. The attraction of engineers to our side has great significance. With us the greater part of engineers had purely capitalist interests. Therefore it will take many years to rebuild industrial life. In Norway, one must hope, this will occur more easily.

Lenin glanced at his watch. I stood up and thanked him for all the cordiality with which I was received during my stay in Moscow.

"Greetings to all Norwegian comrades from me".

Printed June 5, 1920

Printed according to the text of the newspaper in the newspaper "Die Rote Fahne" No. 96 (Berlin)

Translated from the German

Printed in Russian for the first time

1 Jacob Friis — prominent figure in the Norwegian Workers' Party. At the II Congress of the Comintern in 1920, he was elected to the Executive Committee of the Comintern from Norway, Sweden, Denmark (subsequently Sweden was given an independent vote).

2 This refers to the boycott of the Bulygin Duma. According to the project of the Minister of Internal Affairs A. G. Bulygin, the Duma had no right to adopt any laws and could only discuss certain questions as a consultative body under the tsar. The Bolsheviks called on workers and peasants to actively boycott the Duma. The boycott campaign was used by the Bolsheviks to mobilize revolutionary forces, to conduct mass political strikes and prepare for armed uprising. Elections to the Bulygin Duma did not take place, and the government failed to convene it; the mounting tide of revolution and the All-Russian October political strike of 1905 swept away the Duma. For V. I. Lenin's assessment of the tactic of boycotting dumas, see the works "Against the Boycott (From Notes of an S-D Publicist)" and "The Infantile Disorder of 'Leftism' in Communism" (Complete Collected Works, vol. 16, pp. 1-36 and vol. 41, pp. 17-18).

3 "Il Soviet" ("The Soviet") — a newspaper of the Italian Socialist Party; published in Naples from 1918 to 1922; from 1920 it appeared as the organ of the faction of communist-abstentionists of the Italian Socialist Party.

4 N. I. Bukharin in 1918 headed an anti-party group of "left communists".
K. B. Radek — in 1918 a "left communist".

5 This refers to the Brest Peace — a peace treaty between Soviet Russia and the powers of the Central Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey), signed on March 3, 1918, in Brest-Litovsk. The conclusion of the Brest Peace was associated with a stubborn struggle against Trotsky and the anti-party group of "left communists". Only thanks to the enormous efforts of V. I. Lenin was the peace treaty with Germany signed. The Brest Peace was a striking example of the wisdom and flexibility of Leninist tactics, of the ability to work out the sole correct policy in an exceptionally complex situation. The conclusion of the Brest Peace was a rational political compromise.

The Brest Treaty gave the Soviet state a breathing space, made it possible to demobilize the old decaying army and create a new one — the Red Army, unfold socialist construction and accumulate forces to struggle against internal counter-revolution and foreign interventionists.

6 Heinrich Laufenberg — a German left social-democrat, publicist. After the November Revolution of 1918, he joined the Communist Party of Germany, in which he soon headed the "left" opposition, preaching anarcho-syndicalist views and a petty-bourgeois nationalist program of the so-called "national Bolshevism".

Fritz Wolfheim — a German left social-democrat, publicist. After the November Revolution of 1918 in Germany, he joined the Communist Party of Germany, in which together with H. Laufenberg he headed the "left" opposition.

7 This refers to the group of "left" communists of the Hamburg organization of the Communist Party of Germany.

8 The Labour Party was founded in 1900 as a union of trade unions — trade-unions, socialist organizations and groups for the purpose of conducting workers' representatives into parliament. Members of trade-unions automatically become members of the party on condition of paying party dues.

The Labour Party, which originally developed as a workers' party by composition (later it included a significant number of petty-bourgeois elements), is opportunistic in its ideology and tactics. From the moment of the party's origin, its leaders have conducted a policy expressing the interests of imperialist bourgeoisie.

9 Arthur Henderson — one of the leaders of the Labour Party and the English professional movement. Repeatedly served in the bourgeois government of England.

NOTE TO G. E. ZINOVYEV

Comrade Zinovyev in Petrograd

If this is a fault, then it is mine, not Vorovsky's². But it seems the matter was altogether different, and I asked specially.

8/VI [1920]

Lenin

1 A note on the reason for the delay of the proofs of the brochure "The Infantile Disorder of 'Leftism' in Communism" written on a report from the Petrograd branch of the State Publishing House of June 4, 1920, on the progress of publication of the brochure, with a note from G. E. Zinovyev that the proofreading was delayed for 19 days.

2 V. V. Vorovsky was the manager of the State Publishing House.

NOTE TO M. F. VLADIMIRSKY

[June 8, 1920]

Call Krestinsky for telephone inquiry of members of the Politburo, and then we shall take the signatures of the People's Commissars by telephone as well¹.

1 Written in connection with the proposal of Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs M. F. Vladimirsky to V. I. Lenin about the necessity of introducing a representative from the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs into the Committee for the Implementation of Martial Law, since the implementation of martial law locally was entrusted to the NKVD.

TELEPHONOGRAM TO B. P. POZERN

[June 11 or 12, 1920]

Revolutionary Military Council, 5th [Army]

To Pozern

Propose on my behalf to Ivan Teodorovich², located in the village of Tinskoe, to depart to Moscow. Render assistance in departure, supply with means. Convey to him my best wishes and greetings*.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

Printed from the manuscript text, supplemented and signed by V. I. Lenin

1 B. P. Pozern — member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the 5th Army.
2 I. A. Teodorovich — participant in partisan movement in Siberia, later worked in the People's Commissariat of Agriculture.

NOTE TO N. P. BRYUKHANOV OR A. I. SVIDERSKYY

Comrade Bryukhanov, or, if he is not there,
Comrade Sviderskyy

I ask you to satisfy the request¹.

17/VI [1920]

Lenin

1 People's Commissar of Agriculture S. P. Sereda and member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture V. V. Kuraev appealed to the People's Commissariat of Food with a request to equalize in food supply the workers of the forest organs of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture with the workers of the Chief Directorate of Forest Industry, the Provincial Directorate of Forest Industry, and the Railway Department. On June 22, member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Food A. B. Khalatov sent a reasoned note to V. I. Lenin, with a copy to the People's Commissariat of Agriculture to Sereda and Kuraev, on the procedure for food supply of workers of the forest organs of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture. He explained that there is no special ration for employees of the Chief Directorate of Forest Industry, but according to the decision of the Commission for the Use of Material Resources, workers of the Chief Directorate of Forest Industry are supplied according to the cubic footage of completed assignment. The technical personnel of the Chief Directorate of Forest Industry working in the field are also supplied in this manner. Other employees of the Chief Directorate of Forest Industry, working in the same conditions as all Soviet officials, are supplied with food on the same terms as all other Soviet officials. The workers of the Forest Section of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture should be supplied in exactly the same way. On Khalatov's note there is a notation by V. I. Lenin: "to archive" (Central Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism under the Central Committee of the CPSU).

* The last phrase is written in the handwriting of V. I. Lenin.

TELEGRAM TO G. E. ZINOVYEV

17/VI [1920]

Given the conditions of transportation in the Republic, the labor army must be viewed also as a reserve of the supreme command, which is why it is impossible to refuse to detach a division from the army for combat missions until transportation is improved. The 56th division is being transferred to the Caucasian front, where the situation is very serious. Units of the 19th division will be used for Arkhangelsk and Murmansk operations; two cavalry regiments are being taken for the Polish front, where upon the arrival of these regiments a six-regiment cavalry division will be formed; the tenth division is designated for detachment if reinforcement of the sixth army should be required. From the final clarification of the last question, the tenth division remains part of the labor army and can be attracted to work, however, in a measure that does not undermine its combat capability.

Lenin

Printed from the telegraph form

NOTE TO L. A. FOTIEVA

Lidia Aleksandrovna!

Call Petrograd to say that I request the proofs to be sent and as quickly as possible. Find out the deadline for publication.

1/VII [1920]

Lenin

1 This refers to the publication of "Preliminary Draft of Theses on the Agrarian Question", written by V. I. Lenin for the II Congress of the Communist International (Complete Collected Works, vol. 41, pp. 169-182).

LETTER TO ALL SOVIET AND MILITARY INSTITUTIONS

1. VII. 1920

The bearer hereof, Comrade M. Y. Kozlovsky, chairman of the Small Council of People's Commissars, is traveling for treatment to the Caucasian mineral waters.

Request to all Soviet and military institutions to render him every assistance.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

NOTE TO L. A. FOTIEVA

2/VII 20

Lidia Aleksandrovna!

I ask you

1) to send me 2 pages of pass paper,
2) call Zinovyev by phone and ask when the final deadline is for No. 12 of "Comintern"¹ (theses and review of Otto Bauer²)?

Greetings! Lenin

1 This refers to No. 12 of the journal "Communist International".
2 This refers to V. I. Lenin's theses for the II Congress of the Comintern (Complete Collected Works, vol. 41, pp. 159-212) and a review of O. Bauer's book "Bolshevism or Social Democracy?" ("Bolschewismus oder Sozialdemokratie?", Wien, Verl. der Wiener Volksbuchhandlung, 1920). A brief characterization of this book is given by V. I. Lenin in his report on the international situation and the principal tasks of the Communist International at the II Congress of the Comintern (see Complete Collected Works, vol. 41, pp. 229-231).

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

[Between July 3 and 19, 1920]

Comrade Chicherin!

Give urgently a draft resolution of the II Congress of the III International on this question and take from Zinovyev a copy of my theses.

Lenin

1 The document was written on a note from G. V. Chicherin to V. I. Lenin, in which the position of the Workers' Socialist Federation and, in particular, the leader of the extreme left of this federation — Sylvia Pankhurst — is subjected to criticism.

The creation of the Communist Party of Great Britain was hindered by serious disagreements among left socialists on the question of whether the future Communist Party should enter the Labour Party, participate in the bourgeois parliament, and work in the trade unions. Sylvia Pankhurst categorically opposed participation in parliament and entry into the Labour Party. Negotiations (in 1919, 1920) that began repeatedly on the formation of a Communist Party brought no results for a long time. On June 19, 1920, the Workers' Socialist Federation interrupted the negotiations and declared itself the Communist Party of Great Britain (British section of the III International), confirming that it remained on the position of categorical refusal to use parliament. In his note, G. V. Chicherin reported that "the new so-called Communist Party first thing refused to participate in the unification conference of August 1, at which all organizations recognizing the communist platform had in mind to merge. The separate party already created by Sylvia does not go there... In the very program of the new party — the notorious leftism, namely, parliamentary action is entirely rejected". Chicherin further expresses the hope in the note that the Congress of the Comintern will not pass indifferently by this seemingly ultra-left separatist outburst.

The United Temporary Committee for the Formation of the Communist Party of Great Britain on June 20, 1920, addressed a letter to V. I. Lenin. On July 8, Lenin in his reply to their letter expressed his point of view on the actions of the Workers' Socialist Federation and Sylvia Pankhurst: "I consider the tactics of Comrade Sylvia Pankhurst (Pankhurst) and the organization W.S.F. to be incorrect... In particular I personally stand for participation in parliament and for joining the 'Labour Party' (Labour Party), on condition of complete freedom and independence of communist work, and I will defend this tactic at the II Congress of the III International..." (Complete Collected Works, vol. 41, p. 157).

This position of V. I. Lenin was fully reflected in his written "Theses on the Principal Tasks of the Second Congress of the Communist International" (Complete Collected Works, vol. 41, pp. 183-201) and in his speech on entering the British Workers' Party, delivered on August 6 at the II Congress of the Comintern (see ibid., pp. 260-267).

INSCRIPTION ON THE REPORT OF THE TURIN SECTION OF THE ITALIAN SOCIALIST PARTY TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL IN MILAN

I advise publishing in the "Communist International" before the Congress, or, at the very least, as a separate sheet with translation into French.

5/VII [1920]

Lenin

1 The report of the Turin section of the Italian Socialist Party (written by A. Gramsci) to the National Council in Milan was published on May 8, 1920, in the newspaper "L'Ordine Nuovo" under the title "In the Name of the Renewal of the Socialist Party". After becoming acquainted with it in translation, V. I. Lenin wrote the published note. On July 20, 1920, the report was printed in the journal "Communist International" No. 12.

LETTER TO ALL SOVIET AND MILITARY INSTITUTIONS

I request all Soviet institutions, military authorities and all comrades to render every assistance to the bearer Zinaida Pavlovna Kržižanovskaya, personally known to me since 1895, a party comrade and Soviet worker.

8/VII

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars:
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

1 Z. P. Kržižanovskaya at this time worked in the People's Commissariat of Education, was the deputy head of the out-of-school education section.

NOTES ON THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS

[1920, July, not earlier than the 3rd — not later than the 19th]

(in principle)

1) More autonomy for "Mezhsovprof"...
2) It must be independent resources...
3) Supply it with room

not through CI
not through VTSPS                            food
and other things
(material support)
not less than Com. Intern.

Members:
Tomsky, gen. secretary
Executive
I Murphy
Bureau
] Rosmer
(Lozovsky)
Yanson
Shablin

Unequal treatment of syndicalists and anarchists

TRANSLATION

(in principle)

1. Greater autonomy for "Mezhsovprof"...
2. These must be independent resources...
3. Provide it with premises,

not through CI
not through VTSPS                            provisions and other things
(material support)
not less than to the Comintern.

Members:
Tomsky, general secretary
Executive
Bureau
Unequal treatment of syndicalists and anarchists

1 The International Council of Trade Unions was created in July 1920. The Temporary International Council of Trade Unions was composed of representatives from various countries, one from each. The current work was conducted by the executive organ of the Council, consisting of five members. To cover the trade union movement of the most important countries, Mezhsovprof organized five sections: of German countries, Romance countries, English, American, and Eastern countries. During a year of existence (until the first Congress of the Red International of Labor Unions), Mezhsovprof was engaged in propaganda of revolutionary class struggle of trade unions and preparation of an international congress of revolutionary trade unions.

2 M. P. Tomsky — chairman of the presidium of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions, member of the Central Committee of the RCP(b).

John Thomas Murphy (England) — working mechanic, was one of the leaders of the movement of factory and plant stewards.

Alfred Rosmer — prominent anarcho-syndicalist: one of the founders of the Committee for the Restoration of International Ties. In July 1920, as a representative of revolutionary elements of the professional movement of France, he came to Moscow. Participated at the I and II Congresses of the Red International of Labor Unions, as well as at Comintern Congresses.

S. A. Lozovsky (Dridzo) — member of the presidium of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions; member of the Committee for the Restoration of International Ties; one of the initiators and founders of Mezhsovprof.

3 Yanson — was part of the executive organ of Mezhsovprof from the trade unions of Holland.

N. Shablin (Ivan Nedelkov) — was part of the executive organ of Mezhsovprof from the General Union of Trade Unions of Bulgaria.

THE LENIN MISCELLANY

DRAFT NOTES AND PRELIMINARY VARIANT OF THE PLAN OF THE REPORT "ON THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION AND THE PRINCIPAL TASKS OF THE COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL AT THE II CONGRESS OF THE COMINTERN"*

[1920, July, not later than the 19th]

Notes to my report on the principal tasks of the Communist International

International situation and principal tasks of the Communist International

<2*** = 1657.

(Plan of the report)

1. Division of the world 1914 and

(essence of imperialism)

Gigantic exacerbation of all
capitalist contradictions
on a world scale.

2=
1600-÷
\ - 1700

MILLIONS

(Za)** America
+ Japan

Great Britain

"Imperialism"?, p. 82: in 1876 among 6 great powers there were 18% in colonies — 273.8 million inhabitants (¼ billion) 1914 - " - 523.4 (> ****й billion) remaining colonies 45.3 ¾ colonies 361.0

3. Impoverishment — ruin — economic crisis.

Disintegration among the victors.

4. Not "absolute" hopelessness, but revolutionary use of the crisis.

2 = 929.9

Land billions | of colonies and the defeated 1¾ s total 1¾ >
(1914) + 117 2 = 253
^/Russia — 136.^ 136 / Germany — 64.9 Austria — 30.9 ^ Hungary — 21.4 117.2
+ Bulgaria — 5

* See V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 41, pp. 215-235 and 452-455.
** — Zirka — approximately.
*** — summa — total.
**** — more.

YEAR

IXf.* II International: I
[Stuttgart and Basel.
(a) Debts
(b) Wages and prices
(c) Coal extraction
(d) Currency
(e) Income
K e y n e s¹ "The economic consequences of the peace"**. 1919.

5. Growth of revolutionary moods, — ideas — movement (throughout the world), (cf. Rams. Macdonald²)

Opportunism = essence of the II International. Agents of the bourgeoisie in the workers' movement. Economic roots.

page 12: page:

We know that all this will pass***

that the war "created revolutionary conditions"****

page 12-13:

"All this will pass"...

"Violation Power Factors", of the social

Imperialism? p. 64: 8-10 billion frs. per year (at 5%) income from export of capital abroad of three countries: England, France, Germany.

Page 111: Otto Bauer: Bolshevism or Social Democracy? Wien.***** 1920.

Vorwarts 12. IV. 1920

8-10 billion frs. 1914

10 20 30??

Only debts (1920) to 3m countries = 4 billion £ (Keynes: 254), i.e., = 100 billion frs., 5% = 

billion frs.

7. "Cleansing" of revolutionary parties of these agents.

In Russia 1903-1917-1920.

In Europe and America 1915-1920 —

(We do not accept: change first).

* — Confer — compare.
** — Keynes. "The economic consequences of peace".
*** — We know that this will pass, settle down.
**** — "created revolutionary conditions".
***** — "Violation of social power factors", p. 111.
Otto Bauer. "Bolshevism or Social Democracy?". Vienna.

THE LENIN MISCELLANY

8. Left errors.

Growth sickness.

(Ready to accept at once: correct yourselves).

"Democracy is that state form in which the distribution of power in the state is exclusively (italics O.V.) determined by social factors of power", not by violence (p. 109).

x) Five "social factors of power"
1) number; 2) organization; 3) place in the process of production and distribution; 4) activity; 5) education.

9. Revolutionary movement in colonial countries.

The East.

Universal character in fact of the Communist International.

10. 2 2*

Total = Communist International is now not a propagandist society, but the beginning of practical movement of the armies of the working class.

Not the question of how soon will there be revolution, but acceleration of preparation of the proletariat, that is the essence.

Growth of the ideas of communism.

(Role of the imperialist war).

Transitional moment of the movement.

Role of the bought upper layer of the working class (8-10 billion frs.).

Opportunism = bourgeois socialism.

"Left"= proletarian socialism, its growth.

22 = firmly forward.

* . — Summa summarum — general total.

1) Division of the world 1914 and 1920.
2) Gigantic (world scale) exacerbation of all contradictions.
3) Impoverishment — ruin — economic crisis.
4) Absolute hopelessness?
No. Revolutionary action must use to strike down what is falling.
5) (Cf. Macdonald) and growth of revolutionary moods, — ideas — movement throughout the world.
6) Opportunism^ II International.
Economic roots
1914 || 8-10 billion
1920 || 30-40??
7) "Cleansing" of Russia and Europe ~\ America.
8) Left errors. Sickness of growth.
9) Revolutionary movement among colonial peoples: The East.
10) 22
Not a propagandist society, but the beginning of practical movement of armies.

1250 / 175
1050 ~7i
250 * about 300
Russia
— 130
2000*

600


colonies
7 3
colonies
defeated countries
Germany + Austro-Hungary + Bulgaria

"750
Russia
Germany + К

{100}
200 { 50}
{ 50}

1 V 4
V 4
factories
plants
Ж
creditors (Am ^к)

3/ 4 billion
Keynes, 254
Keynes 254
£ billions
+19 billion rubles
(V, doll. Vio £)
+1-9
United States
Crossed-out figure.

THE LENIN MISCELLANY

England
France
+ 17½ (+6 Russia)
+ 3½ (1½ Russia)
~ 10½
+ 1.74
(+ 0.57)
- 0.
+ 0.
- 1
•84

+ 40 billion rubles
Debts
- 19
Brown³, B.
Debts
of 7 states
Debts in % of property
Brown, p. 8
idiot Keynes proposes to annul debts: "generosity" (255)
II in gold
Millions of marks
- 109.2 (1914)

(1920)
nationalized
52-54% France and England
65-70
Italy and Austria
90%
Russia
13% United States
Japan
now > 50%
(49.7% Germany)

International situation and principal tasks of the Communist International

(1876)

Division of the world 1914 — vs* now
6 powers — Germany
England — America
Japan
Hundreds of billions
Destruction
Inflation
Raw materials
Facts
"Privileged countries"...
"Moral" consequences of war
Basel Manifesto ж 1920
NB revolutionary movement in colonies and dependent peoples

left errors...

22 = we are no longer a society of propagandists, but a sum of practically active armies, beginning preparation on a world scale.

* — versus — in relation to; compared to.

Revolutionary mood (cf. Rams. Macdonald)...

Opportunists: 8-10 billion
1920: 2030??
Layer of workers' aristocracy privileged corruption
"Cleansing" of workers' parties, expulsion from the workers' movement.

Wages 1914-1920 —
| Brown, 6 ½ |
150 - 180% (130 (Italy) England)

Prices
Meat
Milk


(United States)
100-150-200 200-240%
140%-190 -200% -400%

-230%-
300%
(Italy)
(England)
Brown, "Times"
Wages
" T i m e s" (maximum)
100-120% United States
130-170% England
200%-300% France + Italy
1913-1919

130% Japan: Brown
10. III. 1920
Supreme
Economic Council
8. III. 1920
Coal extraction
[Brown, p. 64|
England — 20%
France — 50%
Germany — 37%
United States — 4%
Braun from <
10. III.
T i m e s»


1319

Currency (compare with the dollar) £ — 30% "Times", 10. III.

fr  64%
(72% lira)
mark — 96%

Income 50% — 40%

Lapinsky*, p. 14.

THE LENIN MISCELLANY

1 John Maynard Keynes — English vulgar bourgeois economist, apologist of state-monopoly capitalism, participated in the work of the Paris Peace Conference.

2 James Ramsay Macdonald — English political figure, one of the founders and leaders of the Independent Labour Party and the Labour Party. Conducted a policy of extreme opportunism, preached the theory of class collaboration and the gradual growth of capitalism into socialism.

3 M. I. Brown (M. G. Bronsky) — Polish social-democrat, later a member of the Bolshevik party.

4 P. L. Lapinsky — Polish communist, economist and publicist. Was the author of a number of works on world economics and politics, actively contributed to Soviet, Polish, and German communist publications.

INTERVIEW WITH A FOREIGN JOURNALIST* JULY 20, 1920

Lenin made the following statements to a foreign journalist:

"Perhaps the English proposal is merely a scrap of paper. But perhaps it is capable of leading to genuine peace in Eastern Europe. If English diplomats imagine that they can deceive us, they are making a gross mistake: to every paper proposal we shall answer with a paper proposal, and only to genuine deeds shall we answer with deeds. English policy is not stable; it is constantly subject to fluctuations. On one side — Lloyd George*, on the other — Churchill² and between them Lord Curzon³, who would like to see Russia weak. However, beside them stands a large mass of the English people with whom they must reckon. And we rely most of all on these masses. Peace between England and Russia is in direct dependence upon the strength of our Red Army and upon the steadfastness of the English proletariat."

To the question of what Lenin thinks of the relations between the allies, he replied:

"Either the English proposals are a maneuver, or the existence of the famous Entente will subsequently become impossible. The very fact that England accepts "red" money will compel the allies to do the same. Hitherto England has acted independently, and it must be assumed that its policy is directly directed against France. The treaty with Persia was concluded without the mediation of the League of Nations. Turkey's policy of England contradicts the interests of France and Italy. Finally, the English proposal made to Soviet Russia was sent contrary to the will of France. If France continues to support Poland, this will lead to an inevitable quarrel with England. However, if she abandons Poland to its fate, she will lose the last real ally against Germany."

The journalist also asked Lenin: "Will the Communist International cease foreign propaganda in the event of establishing mutual understanding between Russia and England?" Lenin replied: "The very fact that Soviet Russia exists is the best propaganda of communism throughout the world."

Printed July 20, 1920

Printed according to the text of the newspaper in the newspaper "Berner Tagwacht"

Translated from the German

Printed in Russian for the first time

1 David Lloyd George — English statesman and diplomat, leader of the Liberal Party. In 1916-1922 — Prime Minister of Great Britain. One of the inspirers and organizers of the military intervention and blockade against the Soviet state.

2 Winston Churchill — English political figure, conservative. In 1918-1921, as military minister, was one of the inspirers of armed intervention against Soviet Russia.

3 George Nathaniel Curzon — English reactionary statesman and diplomat. In 1919-1924 — Minister of Foreign Affairs of Great Britain. Was one of the chief organizers of foreign military intervention against Soviet Russia.

NOTE TO E. M. SKLYANSKY

[1920, July, not earlier than 22]

Reply: "Instructions have been given to the military command, in accordance with your telegram, to meet your delegates at the specified place and time for negotiations on an armistice and peace"¹.

Military news?

1 The document was written on a note from E. M. Sklyansky: "What decision has been adopted?". This concerns the beginning of negotiations on an armistice and peace with Poland. On July 22, 1920, the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs E. Sapega addressed a note to the People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR G. V. Chicherin. The note stated: "Striving to end the bloodshed and restore peace, the Polish government proposes to the Soviet government an immediate armistice and the opening of peace negotiations" ("Documents and Materials on the History of Soviet-Polish Relations", vol. III, M., 1965, p. 190).

On July 23, Chicherin sent a note to Sapega expressing agreement to begin peace negotiations: "The Russian Soviet government has instructed the supreme command of the Red Army to immediately begin negotiations with the Polish military command for the purpose of concluding an armistice and preparing future peace between the two countries" (ibid., p. 192).

On July 24, in a radio message from the commander of the troops of the Western Front M. N. Tukhachevsky addressed to the commander-in-chief of the Polish army, the time and place of the meeting of representatives of Poland and Soviet Russia were specified.

NOTES TO THE SPEECH AT THE II CONGRESS OF THE COMINTERN ON THE CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION TO THE COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL

[July 29-30, 1920]

1. Split in Germany
(and in Italy?) *.

But what of the III International? Better.

2. K.R.D. compromise unsuccessful.

3. Karl Kautsky and Crispien in Fr. (III — IV) weepily

4. Turati a Co in Italy {"M. Guardian"} **

5. Parliamentarism
vs. journalism
syndicalism
propaganda
agitation
organizations
petty-bourgeois layer
rural proletariat?

6. Reactionary trade unions
in England
(W. Dr. Boilermakers)

* The first three points are crossed out.
** See V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 41, pp. 97-98.

1 Karl Kautsky — one of the leaders of German social-democracy and of the II International, at first a Marxist, later a renegade from Marxism, ideologue of the most dangerous and harmful variety of opportunism — centrism (Kautskyism).

Arthur Crispien — one of the leaders of German social-democracy. In 1920, as part of a delegation from the "Independent" Party, he was present at the II Congress of the Comintern. Upon returning to Germany, he spoke out against joining the Comintern.

NOTE TO M. V. KOBETSKY

[1920, end of July]

Comrade Kobetsky!

Would you be kind enough to send me

1) a list of members of the Russian delegation?
2) Several guest tickets to the Congress?

With communist greetings, Lenin

1 M. V. Kobetsky worked in the Comintern in 1919-1923; after the II Congress he was part of the Small Bureau of the Executive Committee of the Comintern.

NOTE TO THE SECRETARY

[1920, August, not earlier than the 8th]

1) What did Bryukhanov answer about Bialystok. Can he supply grain?

2) Call Nikolayev (People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraphs): can he give Radek² with him (tomorrow) a radio station transmitting 200 versts?
It is necessary³.

1 7-8 carloads of flour were sent at the disposal of the Polish Revolutionary Committee.

2 K. B. Radek — secretary of the Executive Committee of the Comintern.

3 The radio station was transferred to the army.

NOTE TO V. A. AVANESOV

Comrade Avanesov.

Comrade Avanesov!

Do you know the author?
What do you know about him?

I request your opinion in 2 lines

12/VIII

Lenin

1 The published note was written on a letter from Nikolayev, a worker of the Petrograd branch of the People's Commissariat of Finance, to E. P. Peshkova. He asked to convey to V. I. Lenin a note "On the Question of the Development of the Productive Forces of Russia", compiled by M. A. Malyshev, the manager of the control of civil institutions of the Petrograd branch of the People's Commissariat of Finance. Under Nikolayev's note, Lenin wrote: "Who is this?".

Peshkova passed these materials to Lenin through M. I. Ulyanova; on Peshkova's note to Maria Ilyinichna, Lenin wrote: "received August 12, 1920. Lenin".

NOTE TO M. I. GLYASSER

[August 13, 1920]

It is possible only if Le Petit (Lepeti)¹ is first set down and given a whole hour.

1 Written on a note from M. I. Glyasser, a worker of the secretariat of the Council of People's Commissars, with a question about the possibility of setting a reception time for delegates to the II Congress of the Comintern: Frain (USA), Van Overstraeten (Belgium), Maria Nielsen (Denmark), Kabakchiev (Bulgaria), and the German delegation.

2 Lepeti (Louis Bertho dit Jules) — worker, anarchist, active figure in the trade union movement of France. In 1920, he was at the II Congress of the Comintern as a representative of the Committee for the Accession of the Left Wing of the General Confederation of Labor to the III International.

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

[1920, August, not later than the 14th]

Comrade Chicherin!

Steingardt² (from Austria) asks to sign (by you and me) such a thing to send it to Vienna on Monday, 16/8.

Lenin

1 Written on a draft telegram to Vienna about allowing into Russia a delegation of the All-Austrian Workers' Union with the following caveat: "However, it is assumed that the members of the delegation are not in contact with any elements hostile to Soviet Russia". The telegram was sent by radio on August 14, 1920.

2 Karl Steingardt (Gruber) — one of the founders of the Communist Party of Austria, delegate to the II Congress of the Comintern.

LETTER TO I. F. ARMAND
[August 1920, before the 17th]

Dear friend! I was very saddened to learn that you have become exhausted and are dissatisfied with your work and those around you (or your colleagues at work). Can I not help you by arranging for you to go to a sanatorium? I would be very glad to help in every way. If you are going to France, of course I am ready to help as well: I am fearful and even very afraid that you will get into trouble there... They will arrest you and not release you for a long time... One must be more cautious. Would it not be better to go to Norway (many people there speak English) or to Holland? or to Germany in the capacity of a French woman, Russian (or Canadian?) subject? Better not to France, or else you will be locked up there for a long time and they will hardly exchange you for anyone. Better not to France.

I rested wonderfully, got a tan, saw not a line of text, not a single telephone call. Hunting was good before, now everything has been ruined. Everywhere I heard your name: "How things were in order when they were here," and so on.¹

2. If you do not like going to a sanatorium, why not go south? to Sergo in the Caucasus?² Sergo will arrange rest, sun, good work, certainly he will arrange it. He has authority there. Think about this.⁴

I embrace your hand firmly, firmly
Your Lenin

---

NOTE TO N. I. BUKHARIN
[20 August 1920]

To Bukharin
by telephone:
Sylvia Pankhurst writes (for some reason to me) that the English delegates are leaving on 21. VIII in the evening and therefore a meeting with Rothstein should be no later than tomorrow afternoon.¹

Lenin

---

NOTE ON A TELEGRAM
[20 August 1920]

It is too early to transfer to labor status
Lenin

---

NOTATION ON A LETTER FROM G. V. CHICHERIN
TO THE POLITBURO OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RKP(b)

[August 1920, not earlier than 21 — not later than 24]

Agree (to conduct through the SNK on Tuesday, 24. VIII) to begin working immediately.
Lenin

---

LETTER TO THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RKP(b)

23. VIII. 1920

To the Central Committee of the RKP

Since I knew Zifeldt very little and only in Zurich, I would very much ask that you communicate, if possible, his party standing. Are there not those who know him well? or at least generally from work?
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

---

TELEGRAM TO Z. P. KRZEZHANOVSKAYA
27. VIII. 1920

Essentuki
First Park Sanatorium
Room 99

Krzezhanovskaya

For official business your and Meshcheryakova's¹ immediate departure to Moscow is required.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Inform me of the time of delivery to the addressee.
Lenin

---

ADDITION TO THE DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
BASED ON THE REPORT OF THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOREIGN TRADE

[31 August 1920]

And given complete certainty that the trip is fully justified by business considerations.

---

NOTE TO E. M. SKLYANSKY
[August 1920]

Comrade Sklyansky!

So, today the Central Committee. Precisely at [time] o'clock. Precisely at [time] o'clock your report on the military situation and emergency measures.

Lenin

---

NOTE TO A. M. LEZHAVA AND G. V. CHICHERIN

To Lezhava and Chicherin

I ask you to take this into consideration and return it to me with a brief response
2/IX [1920]
Lenin

---

NOTE TO A. I. RYKOV AND L. D. TROTSKY

To Rykov and Trotsky.

I ask you to order a verification in Samara and in Voronezh (among the workers) and report the results to me
1. 3/IX [1920]
Lenin

---

LETTER TO E. MEYER

Dear Comrade Meyer!

Best thanks for what was sent. Herewith everything returned.

If possible, send me Die Aktion again for a longer time (perhaps I will quote Pfemfert¹ again sometime).

With best regards,
Lenin
6/IX [1920]

---

TRANSLATION

Dear Comrade Meyer!

Thank you for what was sent. I am returning everything. If possible, please send me Die Aktion again for a longer time (perhaps I will still cite Pfemfert²).

With regards,
Lenin
6/IX [1920]

---

NOTE TO AN UNIDENTIFIED ADDRESSEE

I. IX. 1920

Elizaveta Nikolayevna and Anna Vasilyevna
Azanchev-
skaya
Tambov
Nikolskaya (or Nikolayevskaya) Hotel
(Room, it seems, No. 1).

Request — take care of improving her (their) food situation and generally conditions of life.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

---

NOTE TO N. N. KRESTINSKY

To Comrade Krestinsky

I propose on behalf of the Central Committee to announce a strict reprimand to the Ukrainian ROSTA for negligence, with a warning of more severe punishment next time

11/IX [1920]
Lenin

---

NOTE TO SH. M. MANUCHARYANTZ

[September 1920, after the 11th]

Comrade Ramirez² (Business Courtyard No. 216) I ask you to obtain and send him the book, my book.

"The Latest Data on the Development of Capitalism in Agriculture. The United States of North America"³

---

NOTE TO A. S. ENUKIDZE

Comrade Enukidze!

I fully join in the request. Be so kind as to write me 2 words about this.

13/IX [1920]
Lenin

---

NOTE TO A. V. LUNACHARSKY AND M. N. POKROVSKY

Comrades Lunacharsky and Pokrovsky

§ 6 — one cannot [publish] "out of order"
§ 9 — regarding rations with the Small Council of People's Commissars.
Exact number².

16/IX [1920]
Lenin

---

NOTE TO N. P. BRYUKHANOV

[17 September 1920]

Comrade Bryukhanov!

Give me the draft (or copy) of your response¹.

Lenin

---

NOTE TO A. D. TSYURUPA

[September 1920, after the 19th]

Your review (brief), Comrade Tsyurupa?

Regards! Lenin

---

NOTE TO N. P. BRYUKHANOV

[23 September 1920]

By telephone:
To Bryukhanov: I ask you to give your response; extremely important¹

Lenin

---

NOTE TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY

[Not earlier than 23 — not later than 26 September 1920]

Comrade Dzerzhinsky! Please order a verification and entrust the secretary to send me the results of the verification

Your Lenin

---

NOTE TO E. M. SKLYANSKY AND F. E. DZERZHINSKY

Comrades Sklyansky and Dzerzhinsky: it is necessary to take most energetic measures! Urgently!¹

24/IX [1920]
Lenin

---

LETTER TO S. I. LIBERMAN

25. IX. 1920

To Comrade Liberman

I ask you to hasten the preparation of the materials on the question of concessions that you promised, since this question will be raised in the Council of People's Commissars on Tuesday, 28/IX of this year.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

---

NOTE TO A. I. RYKOV AND A. M. LEZHAVA

[25 September 1920]

To Rykov and Lezhava

I ask you to prepare and bring before the Council of People's Commissars on Tuesday, 28/IX of this year the question of concessions to Vanderlip¹.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

---

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

Comrade Chicherin!

Could one not send a radio [broadcast] about grain (to Italy) to refute the lies about spoilage?¹

27/IX [1920]
Lenin

---

NOTE TO M. I. GLÄSSER

[September 1920, before the 28th]

I absolutely cannot [meet with you] either tomorrow or in the coming days.

---

REMARKS ON THE RESOLUTION OF THE NINTH CONFERENCE OF THE RKP(b) "ON THE IMMEDIATE TASKS OF PARTY CONSTRUCTION"

To the resolutions of the "decomposition" commission
(§ 13) transfers ("systematically," supposedly) — but without detriment to thorough familiarity with the work of those appointed and the success of their work.

(§ 14) "more frequently change the composition of the collegiums" (of the people's commissariats): instead of more frequently one should say otherwise.

To the archive (to the materials of the party conference IX. 1920).

28. IX. 1920

---

NOTE TO L. P. SEREBRYAKOV
AND CORRECTIONS IN THE DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RKP(b)
AND THE DECREE ON THE UNIFICATION OF THE TARIFF APPARATUS OF THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF LABOR AND THE ALL-RUSSIAN CENTRAL COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS

[September 1920, not later than 29]

Comrade Serebryakov! Would it not be better

1) instead of "economic" to put "financial"?

2) instead of a commission of the SNK to produce directly a draft decree, amending the appended (by Tomsky) as follows:³

Lenin

Resolution of the Central Committee of the RKP
To unify the work of the tariff-norming departments of the People's Commissariat of Labor and the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions in a single tariff department at the People's Commissariat of Labor [under the general leadership of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions]*. The All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions [People's Commissariat of Labor] retains the development of tariffs, leadership of their implementation, jointly with the People's Commissariat of Labor, and control over their implementation [control over the implementation of tariff policy and the right to delay the resolutions of the tariff department, carried out by means of countersigning the resolutions of the department]...

* The text taken in square brackets herein and hereafter is crossed out and corrected by V. I. Lenin; Lenin's corrections are given in roman type.

Decree on the Unification of the Tariff Apparatus
of the People's Commissariat of Labor and the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions

§ 1. The tariff-norming department of the People's Commissariat of Labor and the department of labor norming of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions are to be merged into a single body at the People's Commissariat of Labor [All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions] under the name "Department of Labor Norming of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions and the People's Commissariat of Labor."

§ 2. In exactly the same manner merge their local apparatus at the departments of labor [Provincial Trade Union Councils and District Trade Union Bureaus] under the name "Departments of Labor Norming of the Provincial Trade Union Councils and Departments of Labor"...

§ 7. The Department of Labor Norming of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions shall within a week work out normal staffing tables for the departments of labor norming of the Provincial Trade Union Councils and District Trade Union Bureaus, by which the departments of labor shall be guided in approving budgets. The staffing tables shall be approved by agreement with the People's Commissariat of Labor.

---

LETTER TO A. N. VINOKUROV

[30 September 1920]

To Vinokurov

Alexei Andreyevich Preobrazensky, an old party member personally known to me* worker, is currently working as chief of the administrative service of the Samara-Zlatoust Railway. He has worked on railways for more than 20 years. At the present time he is 57—58 years old. Given that he is extremely exhausted, the request is to release him from his current position with a pension. Having rested for a few months, he will be able to take up work again in one or another field.

His address: Samara, station.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense

The words: "personally known to me" were written in by L. A. Fotieva.

P. S. I ask you to report whether this can be done through the People's Commissariat of Social Welfare and whether a pension will be sufficient. If not, I will turn to the Organizational Bureau of the Central Committee.

Lenin

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TELEGRAM TO ROSTOV-ON-DON

4. X. 1920

Rostov-on-Don
Special Section of the Caucasus Front
To Rusanov

I ask you to obtain for me issue No. 79 of the newspaper "The Don Gazette" from 11 December 1918
and then the complete set of this newspaper.
Telegraph whether this is feasible¹.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

---

INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY

F. F. Ilyin — a Bolshevik, whom I have known since 1903 abroad. A bibliophile. I ask you to give him a freight car to Petrograd (or a place in a car for him and his books and belongings).

Contact Rudy (NKPS)².

5/X [1920]
Lenin

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RECORD OF A CONVERSATION WITH WILLIAM PAUL

[6 October 1920]

Lenin proceeded to review the situation of the Communist Party of Great Britain. He said that the refusal of the Labour Party and Henderson and Thomas² and others to accept the statement of the Communist Party on affiliation³ is recognition of the strength and influence of communism and the idea of Soviets in Great Britain. The very fact that these bourgeois-minded leaders fear having communists in their midst shows how rapidly events are developing in England. The fear of the Labour Party before the Communist Party is an indication that the communists of Great Britain must struggle for unification into a consolidated, disciplined organization. He is very glad that the Communist International decided to fully use its rights to ensure the unification of the communist movement in England. Of course, there is a great difference on the question of affiliation to the Labour Party between the positions of the Communist Party and the old BSP⁴. Whereas the latter simply limited itself to proposing formal affiliation, the Communist Party rightly insisted on the right to conduct its own policy and demanded freedom of action within the Labour Party. Nevertheless, despite the fact that they did not come to an agreement, the Labour Party, in rejecting the statement of the Communist Party, thereby demonstrated that the new organization has drawn into its ranks truly good revolutionary fighters.

The next important question which English communists must discuss, said Lenin, is their relationship to the forthcoming general elections. According to various information available, Lloyd George may impose elections on the country in November. The most important duty of the communists consists in using the forthcoming elections for purposes of agitation. The Communist Party should put forward as many candidates as possible in order to explain to the masses the hopelessness of capitalism and the bankruptcy of the parliamentary system. But since they will not have the opportunity to put forward a large number of candidates, British communists will have to work out a tactical method by which they could use their opponents as a tool to prove that the policy of the Soviets is the only policy that can properly resolve the various problems produced by modern capitalism. Revolutionary political activity consists in using the policy of the enemy, especially if this policy prepares his own destruction. Parliamentary activity not only gives communists the opportunity to conduct broad propaganda; it can also be used as a means to put the opposition in such a position where it will demonstrate its bankruptcy. Many in England are now beginning to understand that capitalism and the parliamentary system are bankrupt. They learn this not only from the theoretical arguments of Marxists and communists — this is the result of the concrete experience and lessons given to them by the coalition government since the armistice. How then can English communists accelerate the collapse of the parliamentary system and expose before the masses its fraudulent pretensions? Certainly not by means of an avalanche of theoretical arguments hurled upon the heads of workers. The purpose of our theoretical views consists in guiding us in our revolutionary activity. The best place to test our theoretical views is the field of combat activity. The true test for a communist is his understanding of how, where, and when to turn his Marxism into action.

Since the Communist Party cannot put forward candidates in every electoral district in order to wage struggle against capitalism and its barren parliamentary method of social representation, the question arises: cannot one use some other political parties to accomplish this work. The Coalition Party with Lloyd George, Churchill, Bonar Law⁵ and Co. have already demonstrated their bankruptcy; they had this opportunity and the period of their rule provoked discontent in the ranks of the masses. The Labour Party is the only political organization which has so far not had the opportunity to demonstrate the collapse of the parliamentary method of rule. The only difference between Arthur Henderson, Thomas and their followers, on the one hand, and Lloyd George and Bonar Law, on the other, consists in the fact that the former have not yet had the opportunity to manage the parliamentary machine. Under the conditions in which communists in England now find themselves, they should help these gentlemen obtain this opportunity to control parliament. Help the Labour Party to prove that it cannot use parliament to solve the vital problems facing society; help it to present concrete proof that it is precisely the Soviets that are the historically evolved instrument which alone can ensure the realization of the will of the masses. In a word, the Communist Party of England must help the Labour Party demonstrate its own bankruptcy.

I asked Lenin whether he did not think that if the Communist Party officially took upon itself the responsibility to help the Labour Party win victory, this might confuse English workers. I argued that we would be officially identified with an organization which would accelerate such a crisis and which would be swept away by angry masses. In the course of this crisis, workers would remember that we actively helped the Labour Party, and there would be danger that we too would be swept away by the wave of indignation. Lenin smiled and said that, despite the fact that Britain has produced good communists who are excellent fighters, he had formed the impression, concerning all English comrades with whom he had met, that they lack political experience. He said that the difficulties of which I spoke could be easily overcome if the Communist Party in each electoral district where a Labour candidate is put forward would issue an official appeal calling on workers to vote for the Labour Party in order to prove that the Hendersons, Thomases, MacDonalds, and Snowdens cannot solve with the aid of the parliamentary machine the numerous problems facing society. This course of action would protect the Communist Party from the troubles which I feared. We discussed this tactic for some time. I continued to raise objections until Lenin, sensing the possibility of a good polemical duel, did not challenge me to a friendly discussion of this question in the English communist press. I readily agreed to this and asked when his first article would be ready. He sadly shook his head and pointed to a heap of important materials which lay piled before him. Therefore I proposed to set forth his view on this question, which I did in this article, and offer it to the readers of The Communist. He agreed, saying that this would correspond to his intentions and would save him time.

---

NOTE TO WILLIAM PAUL

[6 October 1920]

An Englishman, not speaking Russian, asks for directions to the following address: Revolution Square (opposite the former building of the City Duma), Lobachev House, 1st entrance from the corner of Tverskaya, entrance from the square, People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs, Deputy Commissar Comrade Vladimirsky.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

---

LETTER TO V. G. GROMAN

7. X. 1920

Comrade Groman!

Having reviewed your brief report in which you refer to appendices to the report (saying that they "will be sent"), I made inquiries.

The secretary, Comrade Fotieva, says that you have not sent them because they are too voluminous. I ask therefore that you communicate to me their inventory and, if possible, add whether for each point of the summary there are (in these appendices) detailed calculations — if not for all, then for which ones.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

---

LETTER TO G. V. CHICHERIN

Comrade Chicherin! The question was not raised in the SNK and will not be raised. Review the appended report of Groman and return it to me (as well as this letter) with a brief response: do you stand for the commission proposed by Krasin?¹ I think a commission is hardly necessary. It is sufficient to have the materials of the Groman commission in reserve. When needed, we will dig them out and put them to use.

7/X [1920]
Lenin

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INTERVIEW WITH LOUISE BRYANT

[13 October 1920]

At the beginning of 1918 I told the Americans, in particular Colonel Robins¹, that a friendly attitude toward Soviet Russia was in the interest of the United States. Already then I pointed out the desirability of trade relations — both from our point of view and from that of America. We offered concessions to foreign capital. American businessmen who are now coming to Moscow agree with us. Regardless of all political questions, there remains in force the simple fact that America needs our raw materials and we need American goods. American capitalists know perfectly well what they need. They know about the impending struggle with Japan for dominance in the Pacific Ocean; they understand that in the struggle for preponderance on the world market America will have to challenge England. Whether they like it or not, Soviet Russia is a great power. After three years of blockade, counter-revolution, armed intervention, and the Polish War, Soviet Russia is strong as never before. America will get nothing from Wilson's policy of pious refusal to deal with us on the grounds that their government is not to their taste.

Leaders of the Republican Party, it seems, understand that the period of isolation from European affairs has passed*. It is evident that no country can play such a role without using the enormous, undeveloped reserves of raw materials offered by Soviet Russia, which in turn can purchase unlimited quantities of finished goods. After the world war**, Soviet Russia remains the only solvent European power.

* The following text is crossed out by V. I. Lenin: "They undoubtedly believe that America must enter international politics not as an English colony, but as a great, dominant power."

** The following text is crossed out by V. I. Lenin: "it is not to bankrupt Europe that America can turn with business proposals."

Mr. Colby tells the Italian government that we will not fulfill our agreements¹, but Mr. Colby², in my opinion, should weigh his words more carefully. He will not be able to cite a single example, a single fact of our violation of our obligations. And the example of Bullitt⁴? Did he not bring us an obligation of the American government? Did not Mr. Keynes...

and other [figures]
the Bolsheviks did not provide an assessment of Wilson's commitments

67

Printed from the typewritten text corrected and supplemented by V. I. Lenin

Translated from the English

1 The basic points of the interview with American journalist Louise Bryant were first printed in the newspaper "Washington Times" on October 14, 1920. The full text of the interview under the heading "Soviet Power is Stronger than Ever" was published in Serbo-Croatian on October 23, 1920 in the newspaper of Yugoslav workers "Znanie" (Knowledge), which came out in Chicago. The translation from Serbo-Croatian was printed in the journal "Questions of the History of the CPSU" (1967, No. 7, pp. 3–4).

2 Raymond Robins — American bourgeois public figure, lawyer by profession. In 1917–1918 — head of the mission of the American Red Cross in Russia; in his capacity as a representative of the Red Cross met with V. I. Lenin. He engaged in the study of social questions in Russia.

3 Bainbridge Colby — in 1920–1921 Secretary of State of the United States of America.

4 William Christian Bullitt — American reactionary journalist and diplomat, one of the active proponents of anti-Soviet policy. In 1919 he was sent by Wilson and Lloyd George to Soviet Russia to ascertain the conditions under which the Soviet government would agree to conclude peace with the Entente countries and also White Guard governments on the territory of Russia. Through Bullitt, proposals were conveyed that emanated from US President Wilson and British Prime Minister Lloyd George. The Soviet government, seeking to conclude peace as quickly as possible, agreed to conduct negotiations on the proposed conditions, introducing, however, substantial amendments to them (see "Documents of the Foreign Policy of the USSR," vol. II, Moscow, 1958, pp. 91–95).

Soon after Bullitt's departure from Soviet Russia, Kolchak managed to achieve certain successes on the Eastern Front, and the imperialist governments, hoping for the defeat of the Soviet state, refused to continue peace negotiations. Wilson forbade the publication of the draft agreement brought back by Bullitt, and Lloyd George, speaking in parliament, declared that he had nothing whatsoever to do with negotiations with the Soviet government. Bullitt was forced to resign.

5 John Maynard Keynes — English vulgar bourgeois economist, apologist for state-monopoly capitalism. In 1919 he participated in the work of the Paris Peace Conference. Resigning in June 1919, he subjected in a number of works the economic inconsistency of the system of imperialist Versailles peace to sharp criticism. In 1919 his book "The Economic Consequences of the Peace" came out, in which he ridiculed Wilson and the role he played in the Versailles Treaty. In his book he, according to V. I. Lenin's words, showed that "the 'roots' of Wilson's policy amounted only to clerical stupidity, to petty bourgeois phrase-mongering, to a complete lack of understanding of class struggle" (Complete Works, vol. 41, p. 224).

6 Woodrow Wilson — American statesman; President of the United States from 1913 to 1921.

1139

NOTE FROM L. A. FOTIEVA AND L. M. I. GLASSER

[October 13, 1920]

To Lidia Aleksandrovna or Glasser
Time 6½–11 [to] divide (3/4 hour each) between Nikolayev, Kuklin, Alferov, Litvinov2 and others.
Appoint a time for each3.

1 Written on a note from M. I. Glasser, assistant secretary of the Council of People's Commissars: "Grusenberg also requests that you receive him today. He is leaving today."

2 A. M. Nikolayev — in 1918–1924 member of the collegium of the Commissariat of Posts and Telegraph and chairman of the Radio Council.
A. S. Kuklin — chairman of the Petrograd Commune.
K. A. Alferov — chairman of the Main Committee of State Constructions, member of the Small Sovnarkom.
M. M. Litvinov — plenipotentiary representative of the RSFSR in England.

3 Having received this note, M. I. Glasser recorded in V. I. Lenin's desk calendar for October 13:
"6½ Nikolayev
7¼ Grusenberg
— Kuklin
¾ Alferov
1920 YEAR

9½ Litvinov
10¼ Bogolepov."
To this list of persons appointed for an audience, V. I. Lenin added in his own hand:
"10¾ Smilga" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism under the CC CPSU).

1573S

LETTER TO A. P. PLATONOV

13/X [1920]

Comrade Platonov:

I request that you provide a room in House 1 or 2 of the Soviets for Nina Alekseyevna Preobrazhenskaya.

Be so kind as to telephone my secretary [to inform me of] your decision exactly.

Respectfully, V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

1 A. P. Platonov — in March 1920 was appointed responsible manager, head of the economic apparatus of the Kremlin and the Houses of Soviets.

2 On November 24, 1920, M. I. Ulyanova informed V. I. Lenin that the accommodation provided to N. A. Preobrazhenskaya was extremely small and inconvenient. In the draft of M. I. Ulyanova's letter on this matter, V. I. Lenin wrote: "Is this to Platonov then? Is it not so? Check and verify that it is addressed to him and send it" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism under the CC CPSU).

On the same day V. I. Lenin himself wrote a letter to A. P. Platonov requesting that he improve the conditions for N. A. Preobrazhenskaya (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Works, vol. 52, p. 19).

LETTER TO M. N. POKROVSKY

[October 14, 1920]

To the Department of Higher Education. Commissariat of Education

Comrade Pokrovsky:

I request that you provide a scholarship to Nina Alekseyevna Preobrazhenskaya, a student of the medical faculty.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Printed from the typewritten copy

ЛЕНИНСКИЙ СБОРНИК

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

WITH THE TEXT OF A TELEGRAM TO L. B. KRASIN

October 15, 1920

Comrade Chicherin:

I request you to send to Krasin by cipher:

I warn you that I will request the Central Committee to dismiss you from service if there is even one more such stupid and indecent outburst as in No. 875 (12.X) about "distributing gold to Ioffe"1.

It is a disgrace to employ cipher operators for squabbling.

Lenin

1 The reference is to a cipher telegram from L. B. Krasin from London No. 875 of October 12, 1920 to the Commissar of Foreign Affairs G. V. Chicherin.

At this time the chairman of the Russian-Ukrainian delegation A. A. Ioffe was conducting negotiations with the chairman of the delegation of the Polish bourgeois republic Yan Dombski regarding the conclusion of a peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine, on the one hand, and Poland on the other. Dombski demanded that the Soviet Republic reimburse Poland's military expenditures in the amount of 73 million rubles in gold. Ioffe agreed to the sum of 30 million.

In the peace treaty concluded on March 18, 1921, it was stated that both sides renounce compensation for their military expenditures and damages caused by war.

On this question, see also V. I. Lenin. Complete Works, vol. 52, p. 43.

LETTER TO N. I. BUKHARIN*

15/X [1920]

Comrade Bukharin!

Review [this].

Does it not seem to you that there is a danger of absurdly carping treatment [of the] "circle of 'old' (?) communists" toward the new ones? toward workers? Something sectarian, narrow, grotesque.

Would it not be worth attempting to gather material and to speak out in print against this evil?

Your Lenin

*

On the envelope V. I. Lenin wrote: "To Comrade Bukharin (from Lenin)."

1920 YEAR

1 The document was written in connection with a letter from V. Vuyovich, a member of the Committee of the Third International, dated September 21, 1920, about the situation in the socialist movement of France. It discussed the fact that in the period preceding the formation of the Communist Party of France, some leaders of the Third International Committee (B. Souveraine, F. Lorio) occupied a sectarian position with respect to the French Socialist Party as a whole and its members.

N. I. Bukharin — editor of "Pravda."

NOTE TO YA. I. NOVOMIRSKY

[October 16, 1920]

I fear that I shall not be able to.

When is the deadline?1

1 Written on a note from Ya. I. Novomirsky, manager of the publishing house of the "Communist International" in Petrograd to V. I. Lenin, containing the following:

"Since No. 14 of the journal 'Communist International' is almost entirely typeset, the editorial office earnestly requests that you provide some article, as without it the forthcoming issue will be extremely pale and considerably worse than previous ones."

2 In response to V. I. Lenin's question about the deadline for submission of the article, the answer was given: "19 and 20/X." On the same day V. I. Lenin wrote a letter to the editorial office of the journal "Communist International" (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Works, vol. 51, p. 308).

On October 20, 1920, Lenin wrote the article "On the History of the Question of the Dictatorship," printed on November 9, 1920 in the journal "Communist International" No. 14 (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Works, vol. 41, pp. 369–391).

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

Comrade Chicherin! It would be better to keep Rothstein1 in Moscow (he is scarcely a diplomat, and he is needed here extraordinarily), and send Kerzhentsev2 to Stockholm (making an effort to have his sick wife sent there as well: after all, they treat [people] better there). Make an effort to get Kerzhentsev to Stockholm.

If it is absolutely impossible with him, then look for another3.

19/X [1920]

Lenin

1 F. A. Rothstein — chairman of the commission for the reform of higher education.

2 P. M. Kerzhentsev — from spring 1919 to the end of 1920 was the responsible leader of ROSTA.

3 See this collection, p. 263.

2446**

NOTES DURING A CONVERSATION WITH V. L. PANYUSHKIN

[October 21, 1920]

District Committee of Baumansky District (elected in X. 1920) is not approved by the Moscow Committee

Moscow Committee says that, allegedly, this is [a matter of] Korzinov }
all opposition } Kutuzov
and so forth.

(a) Pyatnitsky3 )
; unhealthy!
(b) Myasnikov4 ) elements
(c) Bubnov5 )

] Scheming [and intrigue]

Blizhnichenko } Andrey Emelyanich
[and] Zakharenko1

1 Notes written on the reverse of a letter from V. L. Panyushkin to V. I. Lenin requesting a meeting with him and A. A. Anokhin.

In the text of Panyushkin's letter V. I. Lenin underlines the word "Anokhin" with two lines.

V. L. Panyushkin — party member since 1907. In 1919–1920 worked in the apparatus of the CC RCP(b) as a responsible organizer and instructor. Participant in the "Workers' Opposition," he headed the so-called "Panyushkin group," which later appropriated the name "Workers' and Peasants' Socialist Party." In spring 1921 Panyushkin was expelled from the RCP(b). See also this collection, p. 336.

2 The reference is as follows. On October 12, 1920, at a session of the bureau of the Moscow Committee of the RCP(b), the question was considered regarding the reelection of a new district committee at the delegate assembly of Baumansky District on October 11, 1920. A decision was made: "1) to approve the composition of the new district committee of Baumansky District, except for Kutuzov and Korzinov, who had no right to be present at the assembly and to nominate their candidacies to the district committee, since according to the resolution of the Moscow Committee of September 8 they had been transferred to another district and were supposed to sever all ties with Baumansky District. 2) To bring comrades Kutuzov and Korzinov before the party court for violation of party discipline" (Moscow Party Archive — MPA).

The party court consisting of P. G. Smidovich, M. I. Ulyanova, and F. E. Dzerzhinsky on October 19 resolved: "To recognize comrades Kutuzov and Korzinov as acquitted in the charge of violation of party discipline, but to call to the attention of comrades Kutuzov and Korzinov that under the circumstances created they acted not as the party could have expected from old party comrades. The comrades should have energetically protested against the disloyal attitude of the district assembly toward the Moscow Committee and should not have permitted their election to the district committee" (MPA).

G. I. Korzinov — from 1918 to 1921 was a member of the Moscow Committee of the RCP(b) and member of the Presidium of the Moscow Soviet. In 1920–1921, during the trade union discussion, he aligned with the anarcho-syndicalist group of E. Ignatov, which shared the anti-party views of the "Workers' Opposition."

I. I. Kutuzov — from 1918 was chairman of the Central Committee of the Union of Textile Workers; from 1920 — member of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. In 1920–1921 aligned with the anti-party group of the "Workers' Opposition."

3 I. A. Pyatnitsky — in 1919–1920 chairman of the united trade union of railroad workers (Tsekprofsozh), secretary of the Moscow Committee of the RCP(b).

4 G. I. Myasnikov — in 1921–1922 an active participant of the group of the "Workers' Opposition."

5 A. S. Bubnov — in 1920–1921 was included in the opportunistic group of "Democratic Centralism."

6 The surname "Blizhnichenko" is added by V. I. Lenin under the text of V. L. Panyushkin's letter.

A. E. Blizhnichenko — from 1918 commissar of the Southern District of Communications, deputy people's commissar of communications of Ukraine.

NOTE TO MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)
AND THE ORGBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)
AND INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY

[October 21, 1920]

To the Members of the Politburo and Orgburo

NB. It is necessary to find out the exact date and send 1–2 members of the Central Committee.

Put [this] on the agenda for Tuesday in the Politburo.

Lenin

I request that [this] be circulated to members of the Org. and Politburo, noting their opinion here as well.

1 The published document was written during a session of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) on October 21, 1920 in connection with a note from V. P. Milyutin, in which he reported on the elections taking place in Ukraine for the forthcoming party conference (the reference was to the Fifth Conference of the CP(b)U, held November 17–22, 1920 in Kharkov). Milyutin made a proposal to send representatives from the CC RCP(b) to the conference.

The Politburo adopted a resolution instructing the Orgburo of the CC RCP(b) at its next session to consider the question of the forthcoming Ukrainian party conference.

On October 25 the Orgburo resolved: to consider it expedient to send L. D. Trotsky to the conference and to require L. B. Kamenev to be present at it.

On October 26 the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) approved the resolution of the Orgburo regarding L. D. Trotsky and reversed the resolution regarding L. B. Kamenev, replacing his representation at the conference with G. E. Zinoviev.

MARKS, UNDERLININGS
ON THE LETTER OF A. V. LUNACHARSKY
AND NOTE TO A. V. LUNACHARSKY

[End of October, not earlier than October 21, 1920]

Dear V. I.

Gorky just told me with horror that Zaks (the well-known Grzebin)1 has been appointed book dictator abroad.

He will, of course, destroy the Grzebin affair.

This interests me primarily formally.

From the sidelines, almost from laymen, I learn — "Zaks is appointed by Gosizdat abroad" — "Eremeyev is being reinstated as manager."

Is that good? After all, constitutionally I am responsible.

One ought to consult with me, or at least give me warning! Meanwhile, in response to Gorky's complaint that in this respect the matter is as if without a boss, you answered — "the boss is Lunacharsky, what is he looking at?!"

This is bitter irony! Either take Gosizdat away from me, or accept its decisions, at least with my knowledge! I said this to Comrade Krestinsky. He promises, but the matter goes on as before.

Consult with Krestinsky2 and if necessary enter the text (draft) of a resolution in the Politburo

Of course.

Every people's commissar has the right to report to the Org. and Politburo. And [you must] compel [it to happen]. You are guilty of slackness.

1 See also this collection, pp. 264–265.

2 On November 1, 1920, A. V. Lunacharsky addressed a letter to N. N. Krestinsky, secretary of the CC RCP(b), requesting that all questions concerning appointments in Gosizdat be discussed in his presence.

* — if occasion arises.

1920 YEAR

ORDER TO SECRETARY

[October 22, 1920]

Send by telegraph a reply to Peter.
[Send] me a copy.

1 The order is written on the reverse of a telephone message from A. S. Kuklin, chairman of the Petrograd Commune, in which he reported the catastrophic situation with the supply of workers, in view of the failure of the Commissariat of Food to implement the decision of the Sovnarkom regarding ensuring Petrograd a ten-day supply of bread.

On the telephone message there is a note from A. B. Khalatov, member of the collegium of the Commissariat of Food, stating that on October 23 forty carloads of bread intended for Petrograd were received.

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

23/X 1920

Comrade Chicherin!

The Politburo has reconsidered the question of Rothstein and resolved to agree with him. Consequently, you can take [him].

Respectfully, Lenin

1 On October 22, 1920, F. A. Rothstein wrote a letter to the CC RCP(b) in which he asked to be sent to work abroad, in Stockholm.

On Rothstein's letter V. I. Lenin wrote: "Comrade Trotsky! Cast your vote and forward [this] to Bukharin. I abstain, fearing that you will not leave him here by force. 22/X. Lenin."

On the document there are signatures of L. D. Trotsky and N. I. Bukharin indicating their agreement with F. A. Rothstein.

Having written this note to G. V. Chicherin, Lenin made a note on Rothstein's letter: "Chicherin informed. To Central Committee archive. Brichkina."

By resolution of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) on November 15, 1920, F. A. Rothstein was appointed plenipotentiary representative of the RSFSR in Iran.

See also this collection, p. 259.

ЛЕНИНСКИЙ СБОРНИК

NOTE TO E. A. PREOBRAZHENSKOY

November 1, 1920

Comrade Preobrazhenskoy!

I enclose Gorky's letter. Return [it] with a couple of words, please.

Is it really true that Zaks was sent out from the State Publishing House?

After all, he will really wreck everything.

Respectfully, Lenin

1 The note from V. I. Lenin to E. A. Preobrazhenskoy, member of the collegium of Gosizdat and member of the CC RCP(b), concerned the following question. At sessions of the Orgburo and Politburo of the CC RCP(b) on October 25 and 26, 1920, the request of Gosizdat was considered to send S. M. Zaks-Gladnev abroad as an authorized representative of the publishing house for the printing of books abroad.

A. M. Gorky supported the book publishing house of Z. I. Grzebin abroad and sought its financing and non-interference in its work. V. I. Lenin, who treated Gorky with great attention, feared, as E. A. Preobrazhenskoy wrote in commentary to this document, that "Comrade Zaks (Gladnev) would not be able to tactfully deal with Grzebin and would thereby offend Gorky as well" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism under the CC CPSU).

The letter of A. M. Gorky to V. I. Lenin can be found in: V. I. Lenin and A. M. Gorky. Letters, Memoirs, Documents. Moscow, 1969, pp. 206–207.

See also this collection, pp. 262 and the following document.

UNDERLININGS
ON THE LETTER OF E. A. PREOBRAZHENSKOY AND NOTE
TO E. A. PREOBRAZHENSKOY

[November 1, 1920]

Vladimir Ilyich!

Regarding Gorky's letter, I have the following to say:

I) In the Central Committee we decided to organize our own publishing house abroad. Since Zaks is going abroad regardless of this decision, all objections to the person of Zaks can in no way shake the decision that has been made, which is entirely appropriate. Ask Gorky whether he objects to the very idea of our own branch of Gosizdat abroad. If he objects, then the conclusions are clear.

II) We do not intend to liquidate immediately the work already begun by Grzebin; rather, we want to make a private publishing house unnecessary once we have our own. With our own publishing house we will be able first of all to begin publishing books and manuals of a professional-technical character, which are badly needed by Glavprofobr, Narkomzem, Narkomput and all the economic commissariats, as well as natural scientific and medical publications.

III) Zaks is entirely suitable for the foreign branch.^ In the extreme case, he can be given instructions not to enter into direct relations with Grzebin, limiting his role to observer and informant regarding the work of the latter. His direct obligations and main ones will consist of the organization of our own publishing [house].

IV) I applaud Gorky's assessment of Soykin.

E. Preobrazhenskoy

*

So then, send this instruction (no touching upon Grzebin, not interfering with him, etc., etc.). Send the text of the instruction.

Lenin

1 See also this collection, pp. 262 and the previous document.

1G017

DECREE ON THE SENDING OF M. I. GLASSER ON LEAVE

November 2, 1920

Decree

I hereby decree that Comrade Maria Ignatyevna Glasser1 proceed on leave for a period of no less than 3 weeks.

Chairman of the Sovnarkom V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

1 M. I. Glasser — assistant secretary of the Council of People's Commissars.

IG171

NOTE TO I. N. BORISOV AND V. V. FOMIN

[November 6, 1920]

Why was [this] not submitted earlier to the Council of Defense?1

1 The note is written under the text of a telegraph message from I. N. Borisov, head of the Main Directorate of Communications of the People's Commissariat of Communications, and from V. V. Fomin, commissar of that same directorate, to the Commissariat of Food and other departments (a copy — to the chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense V. I. Lenin) reporting that departments are not timely shipping goods that have arrived addressed to them and thereby creating difficulties in supplying rolling stock to the railroad hub.

The telegraph message indicated that "in the Moscow hub alone on 8/XI there were up to 4,000 carloads of unloaded cargo, mainly arriving addressed to various institutions of the Commissariat of Food, the Commissariat of War, and the Supreme Council of the National Economy, with an average unloading of about 1,300 carloads per day from previous arrivals." Against the underlined words Lenin placed a question mark in the margin.

In response to V. I. Lenin's note, V. V. Fomin reported: "I have sent you a copy and this is a guarantee that the Commissariat of Food is pulling itself together. I was informed today that unloading has considerably increased. We have almost finished transporting potatoes."

After reviewing Fomin's response, Lenin writes on the telegraph: "to the archive."

UNDERLININGS ON A LIST OF BOOKS
AND BROCHURES RECEIVED FROM ABROAD
AND NOTE TO SH. M. MANUCHANTSYAN

Return*

LIST OF BOOKS AND BROCHURES RECEIVED FROM ABROAD FOR NOVEMBER 8, 1920

[A table listing Italian and English books and brochures follows. The table includes works by authors such as Claudio Treves, Virginio Carnevali, Filippo Turati, and others, with publication details in Italian. Several English titles are also listed, including "Now Europe Armed for War (1871–1914)" and "The Bullitt Mission to Russia," among others.]

Written by V. I. Lenin on the first sheet of the list.

I request [that you] send me the underlined I t a l i a n and E n g l i s h brochures.

9/XI [1920]

Lenin

NOTE TO THE SMALL SOVNARKOM

To the Small Soviet:
(a) It is necessary to check the work
(b) summon representatives of the backward departments
(c) submit to the Sovnarkom a draft decree and measures.

21/XI [1920]

Lenin

1 Written after V. I. Lenin familiarized himself with the "Report on the Activity of the Inter-Departmental Metric Commission from the Moment of its Transfer to the Scientific-Technical Section of the Supreme Council of the National Economy (from June 7 to November 1, 1920)."

After discussion of the report at a session of the Small Sovnarkom on December 3, 1920, a resolution was adopted: to summon to the session of the Council on December 17 representatives of the Commissariat of Communications, the Commissariat of Education, the Commissariat of Food, the Scientific-Technical Section of the Supreme Council of the National Economy, and the State Statistical Commission to report on the work of implementing the metric system of measures and weights.

On December 17, the Small Sovnarkom, with the participation of representatives of a number of departments, considered this question and adopted a resolution: to oblige all commissariats within three months to submit to the inter-departmental metric commission concrete measures worked out for the implementation of the metric system.

1920 YEAR

NOTE TO V. P. MILYUTIN

[Not earlier than November 23, not later than December 6, 1920]

1) Regarding forest concessions in the north of European Russia, add:

18.7 million desyatinas [units of land measurement] from several

and in total so much forest there (page 13, lines 5–6 from the bottom)

2) with major firms of one of the largest capitalist countries and preliminary drafts of treaties have been written.

1 The note to V. P. Milyutin, deputy chairman of the Supreme Council of the National Economy, contains remarks written after V. I. Lenin familiarized himself with the text of the brochure being prepared for publication, "On Concessions. Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of November 23, 1920. Text of the Decree. Objects of Concessions. Maps."

In the published brochure, V. I. Lenin's remarks were taken into account.

Other remarks by V. I. Lenin to this brochure can be found in Complete Works, vol. 52, p. 18.

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH N. N. KRESTINSKY

[December 8, 1920]

What is your impression of Pavel Gorbunov and your conclusion regarding his candidacy?

I have spoken both with him and with Nikolai Gorbunov (the former secretary). I prefer Nikolai (the former secretary) in the Office of Affairs of the Sovnarkom and request that the Orgburo give me Nikolai, appointing Pavel Gorbunov to another position2.

If the Orgburo (or even just one of the members of the Orgburo) has objections, I would like to have a conversation.

I do not know Nikolai Gorbunov now after his military work; before, however, he seemed to me a sluggish, uninitiative, unadministrative person, incapable of establishing order in an unsettled matter. What assessment do you currently give him?

I have not seen him for a long time; I think that in military work he has shaped up and learned a thing or two3. Besides, we will give him an assistant for economic affairs.

Put [this] on the agenda of the Orgburo.

1 The correspondence with N. N. Krestinsky, secretary of the CC RCP(b), took place during a session of the plenum of the CC RCP(b) on December 8, 1920, at which V. I. Lenin's request to appoint N. P. Gorbunov manager of the affairs of the Sovnarkom was considered.

V. I. Lenin's petition was granted.

On December 11, 1920, the Sovnarkom approved the candidacy of N. P. Gorbunov.

2 P. P. Gorbunov was appointed manager of the affairs of the secretariat of the CC RCP(b).

3 N. P. Gorbunov — in 1919–1920 was at the front, was a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the 14th and 13th Armies.

LETTER TO L. P. SEREBRYAKOV

[December 8, 1920]

Comrade Serebryakov:

My proposals (in no way finally decided, but only tentative, preliminary, thoughts out loud) regarding the Commissariat of Communications are:

1) Appoint Kovylkin2 as Commissar.

Free Krasin from the Commissariat of Communications.

2) In the collegium of the Commissariat of Communications take only Fomin and Lomonosov3.

3) From Lomonosov obtain a written obligation not to change anything either in the system or in Trotsky's decisions and not to remove the Commander-in-Chief, that is, Borisov4.

4) From Kovylkin also obtain a promise and obligation limiting his power (along the lines of Lunacharsky)5 and commitment.

Lenin

1 In the letter to L. P. Serebryakov, secretary of the CC RCP(b), the matter concerns the proposed reorganization of the collegium of the Commissariat of Communications. On December 23, 1919, L. B. Krasin was appointed Commissar of Communications. In connection with his departure abroad, by decree of the Sovnarkom of March 20, 1920, L. D. Trotsky was approved as temporary acting Commissar.

On December 9, 1920, the question of the collegium of the Commissariat of Communications was discussed at a session of the plenum of the CC RCP(b). A resolution was adopted: "To approve Comrade Emshanov as Commissar, Comrade Fomin as Deputy Commissar, Comrades Rudoy and Bovin as members of the collegium. Regarding the inclusion in the collegium of Comrade Borisov, instruct Comrades Serebryakov and Rudzutak to first question the newly approved members of the collegium and other comrades who know him, reporting the results of the inquiry to the Politburo" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism under the CC CPSU).

On December 11, 1920, the Sovnarkom on the matter of the collegium of the Commissariat of Communications resolved: to request the All-Russian Central Executive Committee to free Krasin from the position of Commissar of Communications, appointing Emshanov as Commissar, appointing Fomin, Rudoy, and Bovin as members of the collegium. Approve Fomin as Deputy Commissar.

2 S. T. Kovylkin — member of the collegium of the Commissariat of Communications.

3 V. V. Fomin — commissar of the Main Directorate of Communications and member of the collegium of the Commissariat of Communications.

Yu. V. Lomonosov — member of the collegium of the Commissariat of Communications.

4 I. N. Borisov — head of the Main Directorate of Communications of the Commissariat of Communications.

5 A. V. Lunacharsky — People's Commissar of Education. In order to strengthen the collegium of the Commissariat of Education, by resolution of the plenum of the CC RCP(b) on December 8, 1920, on the proposal of V. I. Lenin, the position of deputy commissar with broad powers was created. To this position V. I. Lenin proposed appointing E. A. Litkens.

On January 31, 1921, by decision of the Small Sovnarkom, E. A. Litkens was appointed second deputy People's Commissar of Education with the granting to him of the right of a decisive vote in the Sovnarkom in cases of the absence of the Commissar of Education and his first deputy.

On February 2, 1921, the question of appointing E. A. Litkens as second deputy Commissar of Education was decided by the CC RCP(b) (see this collection, p. 284).

PROPOSAL TO THE CC RCP(b)

[December 9, 1920]

In my opinion:

1) permit publication;
2) give first priority to Goelro and the commissariats;
3) if it does not come out under these conditions, send [it] to Petrograd;
4) ask all members of the Central Committee or the Politburo.

Lenin*

1 The document was written in connection with a telephone message to N. N. Krestinsky, secretary of the CC RCP(b), from D. L. Weiss, deputy head of Gosizdat, in which he reported that the Moscow Committee of the RCP(b) requests permission to publish in urgent order for the forthcoming Eighth Congress of Soviets a collection of articles and reports of the leader of the anti-party group "Democratic Centralism," T. V. Sapronov. At the same time, the management commission of Gosizdat drew attention to the fact that a significant number of reports and materials for the congress from various Soviet institutions and party bodies are arriving only now, leading to extraordinary overloading of the printing presses and disorganization of their work.

In a poll, the majority of Central Committee members spoke in favor of publishing the collection.

* The document is also signed by I. V. Stalin.

A telegram was sent to Gosizdat to Weiss signed by N. N. Krestinsky, reporting the support of the CC RCP(b) for the request of the Moscow Committee of the RCP(b) regarding the publication of a collection of articles by T. V. Sapronov on the condition that this does not interfere with the timely publication of all editions of GOELRO (the State Commission for the Electrification of Russia), commissariats, and the CC RCP(b).

NOTES DURING A CONVERSATION WITH A. E. BADAYEV

[December 10 or 11, 1920]

Badayev

1) Unite the Moscow and Petrograd [organizations]
2) vegetable farming, land, milk farms near Moscow.
Set aside a portion for the Moscow Consumer Society (Badayev)
(Kamenev — in favor)
Majority of Presidium — in favor of the guberniya land section
December 10, 1920
3) Closure of Sukharevka
(can and should be closed)
unanimous resolution of the meeting of all Moscow trade union boards
December 8

Speak with Kamenev
P u t [this] on the agenda in the S o v n a r k o m

With Doctor Solovyev3: [get] a good doctor (heart, stomach) for Badayev4.

1 Notes written during a conversation of V. I. Lenin with Chairman of the Moscow Consumer Commune A. E. Badayev.

V. I. Lenin was presented with a memorandum written by Badayev entitled "Bases for the Unification of Food Organizations of Petrograd and Moscow" of November 15, [1920], in which the question was raised regarding the unification of consumer societies of Petrograd and Moscow (food consumer communes were created by decree of the Sovnarkom of March 16, 1919).

2 The aforementioned resolution, adopted on December 8, 1920, at the plenum of the Moscow Union of Trade Unions on the report of A. E. Badayev, in which it was proposed that the Moscow Consumer Commune proceed to the complete elimination of Sukharevka and other points of free trade, was sent to V. I. Lenin by A. E. Badayev on December 11, 1920.

On the same day V. I. Lenin added to the agenda of the Sovnarkom a supplement: "On the Destruction of Sukharevka" and spoke at the session with a report of A. E. Badayev's petition on this matter.

After discussion, the Sovnarkom resolved to instruct the Small Council, with the participation of representatives from the Presidium of the Moscow Soviet, the Moscow Extraordinary Commission, the Commissariat of Food, and the Union Council of Trade Unions, to consider within a week the question of the elimination of Sukharevka and to develop an appropriate draft.

On December 17, the Small Sovnarkom adopted a resolution: in view of the adoption by the Presidium of the Moscow Soviet of real measures to eliminate Sukharevka, to consider this particular question exhausted.

Against the third point there is a secretary's note: "Fulfilled by the Secretariat."

3 Z. P. Solovyev — head of the Main Military-Sanitary Directorate of the Red Army.

4 After the word "Badayev," there is a note in the secretary's hand: "fulfilled (secretary Semashko took it upon himself to have a conversation with Solovyev and Badayev)."

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

Comrade Chicherin! I request [that you] discuss: 1) whether to send all this to Krasin; 2) or more cautiously release part [of it]; 3) by telegraph or letter (perhaps by telegraph would be more appropriate).

Return the original, please, to me.

16/XII [1920]

Lenin

1 The document is written under a draft response to the chairman of the Soviet trade delegation L. B. Krasin in London, drawn up by A. G. Goikhbarg on the instructions of V. I. Lenin (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Works, vol. 52, p. 33).

The draft reported the results of calculations by A. G. Goikhbarg, who was entrusted with checking and completing the work of the commission of V. G. Groman.

For more details on Groman's commission, see this collection, p. 253.

INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARIES

[1920]

Check by telephone whether [the] execution [has taken place], record exactly when it has been carried out.

1 The instruction is written on a letter signed by K. A. Alferov, acting chairman of the Main Committee of State Constructions, to Chusosnabarmy and to the Commissariat of Food with a request to issue in the first instance to Prodstroy in Moscow three carloads of bread and other products for distribution among workers of the Main Committee of State Constructions according to the norms of railway line workers in order to ensure the fulfillment of "operational assignments of the Center."

NOTE TO A. D. TSYURUPA

[1920]

You have become kind and compliant. Really, that will not do.

1 Written on a note from A. D. Tsyurupa, Commissar of Food: "I fear that you do not see the threat. We shall perish after all! In the area of food supply, we are moving steadily toward collapse. We must save ourselves."

NOTE TO AN UNESTABLISHED ADDRESSEE

[End of 1920 – beginning of 1921]

A stupid report from the Commander-in-Chief regarding the Caucasus1...

We are occupied with politics, but we failed to encircle Makhno2.

How many divisions in total will be on the Caucasus?

1 The reference is to a report from Commander-in-Chief S. S. Kamenev with considerations regarding the military-political consequences of events in the Caucasus.

2 N. I. Makhno — leader of the anarchist-kulak detachments in Ukraine, which fought against Soviet power in 1918–1921.

YEAR 1921

LETTER TO S. P. SEREDA

January 1, 1921

Comrade Sereda
(in case of his illness [address to] Muralev, Theodorovitch, Kurayev2)

Comrade Smirnov, [chairman of the] Siberian Revolutionary Committee, says that 500,000 resettlers have been imposed on them. [They] can take 100,000:*.

[He] says that Radus-Zenkovich (chairman of the Kirghiz Sovnarkom) does not want to take resettlers, but should take many.

He is leaving tonight (1/1 – 1921).

Be sure to speak today with Radus-Zenkovich and come to a definite agreement.

Lenin

1 S. P. Sereda — People's Commissar of Agriculture.

2 N. I. Muralev — member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture.

I. A. Theodorovitch — member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture.

V. V. Kurayev — member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture.

3 The question of regulating peasant resettlement was discussed at a session of the Sovnarkom on June 15, 1920. In accordance with a resolution of the Sovnarkom, the Siberian Revolutionary Committee and the provincial executive committees of producing provinces were sent a telegraph signed by V. I. Lenin and S. P. Sereda offering to clarify the possibilities of placing resettlers and to report to the Commissariat of Agriculture all necessary information (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Works, vol. 51, pp. 343–344).

ЛЕНИНСКИЙ СБОРНИК

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

To Chicherin:

Is it not time to propose Vorovsky?

2/1 [1921]

Lenin

1 Written on a telegraph from V. L. Kopp, authorized representative of the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs and the Commissariat of External Trade in Germany. The latter reported that, according to information received by him from Rome, the Italian government objected to the appointment of Ya. A. Berzin as trade representative in Italy, because in 1918 the Swiss government had expelled him from the country, where he was serving as plenipotentiary.

Having marked the text of Kopp's telegraph with two vertical lines, V. I. Lenin wrote: "NB."

2 On January 3, G. V. Chicherin informed V. I. Lenin that the candidacy of V. V. Vorovsky had long since been proposed and the Italian government had agreed to accept him. "The question can only concern whether to declare to the Italians our refusal regarding the candidacy of Comrade Berzin and our agreement to appoint Comrade Vorovsky," wrote Chicherin. On Chicherin's letter there is a note by Lenin: "to the archive" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism under the CC CPSU).

On March 12, 1921, the trade mission of the RSFSR headed by V. V. Vorovsky arrived in Rome.

INSTRUCTION TO N. P. GORBUNOV

[January 4 or 5, 1921]

To N. P. Gorbunov: Find out from Lezhava what the matter is here.

Is it not time to break with the Swedes?

Lenin

1 Written on a telegraph from Stockholm from Yu. V. Lomonosov, authorized representative of the Council of People's Commissars for railroad orders abroad, in which he reported the text of his cable sent to London to L. B. Krasin. In it, Lomonosov wrote that Swedish firms that had accepted Soviet railroad orders were refusing to fulfill them, demanding a change in payment conditions, and proposed agreeing to the firms' demands.

On January 5, 1921, A. M. Lezhava, deputy Commissar of External Trade, telegraphed L. B. Krasin that he was leaving him to decide entirely on the matter of the Swedish concern and added that he would deem it proper to give a positive response.

NOTE TO N. P. GORBUNOV

[1921, January, not earlier than January 14]

Comrade Gorbunov!

I request that you contact whoever is necessary

( N K I D [Commissariat of Foreign Affairs]
|
V Ch K [All-Russian Extraordinary Commission]
[ and so forth

and try to settle the matter.

Lenin

1 The document was written under the text of a letter from A. Lomov (G. I. Oppokov), member of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the National Economy, chairman of the Main Forest Committee. He wrote that the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs systematically delayed the entry of representatives of foreign firms conducting negotiations on concessions. Lomov asked V. I. Lenin to "give a general directive to the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs — to grant unhindered permission for entry to persons summoned by us from abroad for negotiations on concessions" (underlined by V. I. Lenin).

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

Comrade Chicherin! I received this in the enclosed envelope1. Who is this? Be a r c h i c o n s p i r a t o r i a l and please find out who this is and how one ought to proceed.

29/1 [1921]

Lenin

1 The reference is to a letter from M. L. Levin from Vienna dated December 31, 1920, in which he asked V. I. Lenin to assist him in traveling to Russia.

M. L. Levin — one of the founders of the Communist Party of Bavaria; member of the Communist Party of Germany. In 1921 Levin came to Moscow. At the end of 1921 V. I. Lenin had a conversation with M. L. Levin regarding the Bavarian Soviet Republic of 1919 and the policy of the Communist Party of Bavaria in that period.

TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO A. I. RYKOV

AND INSTRUCTION TO SECRETARY

[The text appears to be cut off at this point]

[January 29, 1921]

To Comrade Rykov. Would it not be better to consult with the Chekists now? Perhaps it would be possible to straightaway eliminate the misunderstanding? Of course, unity is necessary, and I am confident that Trotsky will agree with this. One must eliminate the split (or "three-way split") here and now, otherwise the commission threatens to fall apart. I am occupied in the Central Committee commission on People's Commissariat of Enlightenment. Should we not approach Stalin, Krestinsky, and Kamenev?

Lenin

Both telephone telegrams to Stalin and Kamenev by telephone.

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COMMISSION FOR THE URALS

1 The document was written on the following telephone telegram from January 29, 1921.

"Comrades Lenin, Trotsky, Zinoviev, Stalin.

Our participation in the Urals Commission of the Council of Labor and Defense yields nothing. Trotsky travels in his own train via Samara, Chelyabinsk, Yekaterinburg. Zinoviev in his own—when is unknown, from Petrograd. We are offered to attach ourselves to some train and catch up. We do not count on catching up by such a system, just as we do not count on obtaining results corresponding to the interests of the matter from such a journey without at least one meeting to determine the tasks, composition of personnel, approximate determination of time, place and system of work (the Urals are not at all an unknown country). The Chief Transport Commission wants to travel separately and once again disturb the entire Urals. We earnestly request our delegation (Syromolotov, Glavtop, Glavugol, Glavlescom, Chief Transport Commission) be provided a special train with indication of where and when the Council of Labor and Defense Commission will begin work, or permit us to refrain from participation in the work and release us and our representatives from responsibility.

Rykov, Lomov, Syromolotov, Bogdanov, Eismont."

The Urals Plenipotentiary Commission was established by decree of the Council of Labor and Defense on January 28, 1921 "for the purpose of creating conditions in the Urals most favorable for metallurgical and fuel-extracting industry (from the standpoint of coordinated work of various institutions, housing accommodation, provision of food, transportation means, labor force, etc.)" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the CPSU).

On the document there are notations by I. V. Stalin and L. B. Kamenev on the necessity of unity among the commission members and coordinated organization of the journey.

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ASSIGNMENT TO N. P. GORBUNOV

Comrade Gorbunov! Please give this matter some movement.

30/I 1921

Lenin

1 The assignment was written on the upper part of a letter from the Chief of the General Department of Material Services of the Aleksandrovskaya (now Belarusian) Railroad R. Chervinskii to V. I. Lenin. Chervinskii wrote that in August 1918 he was transferred from service in Petrograd to Moscow. Due to the urgency of the move, Chervinskii deposited all his property in storage at a Petrograd private pawnshop. Despite having a receipt for the deposited items, he cannot obtain the return of his things. Finding himself in dire straits, Chervinskii asked V. I. Lenin to render assistance.

On February 1, 1921, N. P. Gorbunov sent a letter to the Presidium of the Petrograd Soviet and asked for expedited resolution of this matter, with the response addressed directly to Chervinskii. At the same time, Gorbunov informed Chervinskii that V. I. Lenin had received the petition and gave the instruction to forward it to the Presidium of the Petrograd Soviet.

---

PERSONAL MEMBERSHIP CARD OF A MEMBER OF THE MOSCOW ORGANIZATION OF THE RUSSIAN COMMUNIST PARTY (BOLSHEVIKS)

No. 224332/1977

[No later than January 1921]

1) District
2) Precinct
3) Cell (its exact address)
4) Surname, name, and patronymic
5) Age
6) Family status
7) Nationality
8) Native language
9) Profession

Kremlin subdistrict
Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov
50 years
married
Russian
man of letters

LENIN COLLECTION

10) Education
higher
11) Enterprise or institution where you work
Council of People's Commissars
12) Its exact address and telephone number
Kremlin (Upper switchboard)
13) Home address
14) Were you formerly a member of another party, from what time to what time
no
15) Which organization originally accepted you as a member of the RCP and when

16) Who recommended you?
17) From which organization did you come to the Moscow organization and when
18) Number of your party card in the Moscow organization

19) What party duties do you currently perform
20) When did you undergo military training and number of registration certificate in the special detachment

Signature
Published from a form filled out by V. I. Lenin

1 The personal membership card of a member of the Moscow organization of the RCP(b) and the Registration card (see the following document) were filled out by V. I. Lenin in connection with the introduction of a unified party card, which was carried out in accordance with the decision of the IX Congress of the Party.

On September 17, 1920, V. I. Lenin filled out a questionnaire for the re-registration of members of the Moscow organization of the RCP(b) (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 41, pp. 465–468).

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REGISTRATION CARD

[No later than January 1921]

Surname: Ulyanov (Lenin)
Name: Vladimir
Patronymic: Ilyich
Date of birth:

Party card No. [527] 224332/1977*

*The party card number was written in place of the crossed-out number "527."

Date of admission to the party:

Military education: none
Political preparation: [blank]
Profession now and formerly: formerly chiefly man of letters
Current service: Chairman of Council of People's Commissars
Address of residence in Moscow and telephone number: Kremlin. Upper switchboard
Address of family and its composition: same. Wife, brother, sisters
Company and platoon number:
Number and type of weapon:

Which cell are you a member of: Kremlin subdistrict

Published from a form filled out by V. I. Lenin

1 See the previous document.

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NOTE TO V. V. KUYBYSHEV

[No earlier than January 1921]

Comrade Kuybyshev!

If you are part of this "foursome," one must put forward a better speaker. 2. Khalatov always chews unbearably and unclearly to the point of impossibility. One cannot understand him.

1 V. V. Kuybyshev in 1920 was Plenipotentiary Representative of the RSFSR with the Bukhara Government; later a member of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions. From May 1921—member of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the National Economy and Chief of Glavelektro. From April 1922—Secretary of the Central Committee of the RCP(b).

2 What is in question is unknown.

3 A. B. Khalatov—in 1918–1923 a member of the Food Department of the Moscow Soviet, Commissar of the Moscow Regional Food Committee, member of the Collegium of the People's Commissariat of Food of the RSFSR, Chairman of a Commission of the Council of People's Commissars for Workers' Supply.

---

NOTE TO N. N. KRESTINSKY

Comrade Krestinsky! Today our commission (Preobrazhensky, Tomsky, and I), to which the Central Committee gave the right, with unanimity, to decide in the name of the Central Committee, adopted a unanimous decision regarding the "Second Deputy."

1/IV [1921]

Lenin

1 The published document was written on a letter to the Central Committee of the RCP(b) from A. G. Goikhbarg, Deputy Chairman of the Small Council of People's Commissars. He reported that according to existing regulations, the Small Council of People's Commissars could not confirm E. A. Litkens as Assistant People's Commissar of Enlightenment (as proposed by a decree of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) from December 8, 1920), but considered it possible to propose appointing him Second Deputy Commissar. In connection with this, the Small Council asked the Party Central Committee to reconsider its decision.

See also the present collection, pp. 270–271.

2 This refers to the commission for the reorganization of the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment, established by decree of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) from January 26, 1921.

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LETTER TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY

17/III 1921

Comrade Dzerzhinsky

I earnestly request that you not arrest Pyotr Semyonovich Osadchiy without my knowledge; he must not be confused with Pavel Sergeyevich Osadchim—an SR. The former has absolutely no connection with the SRs, for which Comrade Kryzhizhanovsky vouches absolutely.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Published from a typewritten copy signed by V. I. Lenin

1 The following response was written on the published document, transmitted by telephone from Petrograd: "Osadchiy was arrested on the initiative of a district troika during the Kronstadt events. At present he has been released. His surname is not confused with another Osadchim." Below the text of the response there is an instruction from the secretary of the Chairman of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission F. E. Dzerzhinsky, V. L. Gerson: "Inform Comrade Lenin." See also the present collection, pp. 288, 297.

G. M. Kryzhizhanovsky—Chairman of the State Planning Commission of the RSFSR.

*Letters of similar content on the same day were directed to the Petrograd Cheka and to G. E. Zinoviev.

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LETTER TO P. I. POPOV

20. III. 1921

Comrade Popov!

Have you received Comrade Larin's criticism (from 17. III), addressed to you? (I received a copy). Check it. It is now necessary to publish your "report" very quickly for all. Write to me without delay whether you are correcting anything in it and what exactly.

With cordial greetings,
Lenin

1 P. I. Popov—from 1918 headed the Central Statistical Administration.

2 Yu. Larin—in 1920–1921 Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council on Transportation.

3 This refers to P. I. Popov's brochure "Grain Production of the Soviet and Federated with It Republics," published only for members of the X Congress of the Party. In expanded form, Popov's brochure was published under the title "Production of Grain in the RSFSR and Republics Federated with It (Grain Production)." M., 1921.

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ASSIGNMENT TO THE SECRETARY

[March 25, 1921]

Preserve and request the work experience and training of technician Piruev. Remind me in a week.

1 The assignment was written on a report from the Administration of Affairs of the Council of People's Commissars, presented to V. I. Lenin in fulfillment of his assignment (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 52, pp. 107–108). The report stated that responsibility for the complete serviceability of all equipment and inventory of the Administration of Affairs of the Council of People's Commissars was placed on the Commandant of the Council of People's Commissars Y. I. Auberg, and technical supervision of the Kremlin elevator was entrusted to engineer of the Moscow plant of lifting structures Spinner and technician Piruev.

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NOTE TO N. OSINSKY

[March 25, 1921]

Our Politburo is now considering an important question. After the conclusion of this question I will report.

Lenin

1 The present document was written on the back of a note from Deputy People's Commissar of Agriculture N. Osinsky. Reporting that the work of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture suffers from the fact that the question of the composition of the collegium and responsible workers of the commissariat has not been resolved, Osinsky asked that it be considered at a current meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b).

The composition of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture was confirmed at a meeting of the Council of People's Commissars on March 29, 1921.

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LETTER TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY

27. III. 1921

Comrade Dzerzhinsky!

Yanushevsky, about whom we spoke, wants to be appointed scholarly secretary of the transport subcommission (in the General Planning Commission under the Council of Labor and Defense). Since this is not administrative work, not in the People's Commissariat of Railways, then, in my opinion, it is possible.

Your opinion?

Your Lenin

1 This refers to engineer-technologist P. S. Yanushevsky, who was working at that time in the People's Commissariat of Railways.

By decision of the transport section of the State General Planning Commission P. S. Yanushevsky was introduced into the section as scholarly secretary.

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NOTE TO V. M. MOLOTOV

Comrade Molotov!

I support Comrade Emshanov's request, finding that a party member since 1918 (given the facts indicated by him, especially the recommendation of men of letters) deserves such confidence. Personally I do not know him at all.

2/IV [1921]

Lenin

1 The note to the Secretary of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) V. M. Molotov was written on a letter from People's Commissar of Railways A. I. Emshanov to V. I. Lenin. Supporting the request of the Manager of Affairs of the People's Commissariat of Railways S. V. Dmitrievsky to release him from administrative work "for writing a booklet of sketches of revolutionary life," Emshanov considered it necessary to resolve this question in the Party Central Committee.

By decision of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) from April 4, 1921, Dmitrievsky was granted a three-month leave for writing the booklet.

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DRAFT DECISION OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b)

[April 6, 1921]

Recognize as necessary to radically change the speed of demobilization. For this:

Do not transport those being demobilized by railway, but release them on foot (exception: use of empty cars, etc.).

Cancel the rules and decrees on provision of clothing, footwear, etc. to those being demobilized.

Set as a task to reduce the army by autumn to 1 million.

Entrust the Demobilization Commission to present by Friday a detailed report on the precise measures and methods to conduct all this in Soviet fashion. Compile a calendar program for reduction of the army.

Issue a circular dispatch to provincial party committees on the necessity to assign a responsible worker to lead detachments of special designation.

Schedule reports of the Demobilization Commission and Comrade Trotsky, on the one hand concerning the course of army demobilization and, on the other hand, concerning improvement of the quality of the army (including detachments of special designation) twice monthly to the Politburo.

1 The draft decision on demobilization of the army, proposed by V. I. Lenin, was adopted by the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) on April 6, 1921.

---

LETTER TO A. M. NIKOLAYEV

[1921, later than April 8]

You have been yawning and continue to yawn. The matter has fallen asleep. I do not remember a decision of the Politburo. It seems one should gather additional data? Krasin responded either with ignorance or negatively. Keep watch. Remind Molotov. Ask Krasin for a document. Gather formal opinions.

1 A. M. Nikolayev—in 1918–1924 a member of the Collegium of the People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraph and Chairman of the Radio Council.

2 What is in question has not been established.

3 L. B. Krasin—from 1920 Chairman of the Soviet trade delegation in London, and then official representative of the RSFSR in Great Britain; People's Commissar of Foreign Trade.

4 V. M. Molotov—Secretary of the Central Committee of the RCP(b).

---

LETTER TO THE PETROGRAD PROVINCIAL EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSION AND ASSIGNMENT TO THE SECRETARY

Write them a letter: "I am not satisfied with your response. Pyotr Semyonovich Osadchiy is appointed Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Commission. I request precise and detailed information about who (names)*, when, and why arrested Osadchiy."

11/IV [1921]

Lenin

1 The document was written below the response of the Petrograd provincial Cheka from April 9, 1921 to V. I. Lenin's inquiry about the reasons for P. S. Osadchiy's arrest (see the present collection, p. 284). The letter reported that P. S. Osadchiy "was arrested during the period of the recent disturbances by one of the revolutionary tribunals as politically unreliable. The Petrograd Extraordinary Commission does not in the least confuse him with Osadchim Pavel Sergeyevich, who has a definite political coloring."

See also the present collection, p. 297.

*Written under the word "who."

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[Image caption: Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks). Proletarians of all countries, unite! Membership card No. The bearer hereof, Comrade [Lenin] is elected a delegate to the 10th Congress of the Russian Communist Party with the right of a decisive vote from the [Moscow] organization.

Photograph 15. V. I. Lenin: "Archives of the Cheka"
On the delegate card to the X Congress of the RCP(b).
March 1921]

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NOTE TO V. M. MOLOTOV FOR THE POLITBURO OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b)

To Molotov for the Politburo: In my opinion, the author is wrong. He is formalistic. If there were brochures "more to the left than Martov," we would look at them. But now the author's proposal will not do. He has not gotten into the matter as he should.

17/IV [1921]

Lenin

1 The document was written on a report from I. Vardin (Mgeladze), an authorized referent of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission, to the Central Committee of the RCP(b) and to the Executive Commission of the Moscow Committee of the RCP(b) on the question of the attitude toward parties of the petty bourgeoisie. In it the author proposed to legalize certain currents and groups in the parties of Mensheviks, SRs, and anarchists.

Mgeladze's proposal to release under arrest in connection with the pre-election campaign for elections to the Moscow Soviet individual Mensheviks and SRs who were not accused of preparing an uprising against Soviet power was discussed at a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) on April 14, 1921 and was rejected.

On April 23, 1921 at a meeting of the Politburo a protest of Mensheviks concerning their non-release during the elections was discussed. It was decided to instruct the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee to reject the petition of the Mensheviks, since their leaders F. Dan and N. Rozhkov "are guilty of complicity in the Kronstadt rebellion" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the CPSU).

f. 390, op. 1, unit 11

NONPARTY MEMBERS AND SOVIET POWER

(A WORD FROM COMRADE LENIN)

SPEECH RECORDED ON A GRAMOPHONE RECORD

Workers and peasants, give us honest and devoted to Soviet power nonparty workers for the administration of the country and for the improvement of the economy. For Soviet power, honest and devoted nonparty workers are necessary, since party members alone are not sufficient. From among nonparty workers and peasants there are very many indeed such as are distinguished by honesty and the ability to conduct the work of administration and economic work. For example, to set up handicraft enterprises, to organize cooperatives, proper distribution of products, to improve affairs with dining halls, with housing, with children's nutrition, and so forth and so on.

In each province there are thousands and thousands of nonparty workers and peasants not yet assigned to the work of administration, to the work of restoring the national economy. It is the direct duty of party and Soviet workers to find such people, push them forward, give them work, test their abilities, give them the chance to develop and show themselves.

We do not fear—on the contrary, we need and desire the help of nonparty workers and peasants. One must only beware of Mensheviks and Socialist-Revolutionaries, who like now to call themselves nonparty, while in fact conduct their traitorous work for the benefit of White Guards and landowners. It is no accident that all White Guards and landowners rushed to help the Kronstadt rebellion. Such disguised nonparty members must be exposed and arrested, while honest nonparty workers and peasants must be attracted to work in every way and to the fullest extent.

Delivered [blank] April 1921

Published from the recording of a gramophone record

1 The recording of V. I. Lenin's speeches on gramophone records was organized by the Central Press in 1919–1921.

2 The Kronstadt counterrevolutionary rebellion against Soviet power, organized by White Guards, SRs, Mensheviks, anarchists, and the agents of imperialist powers, began on February 28, 1921. In this rebellion the new tactic of the class enemy manifested itself, attempting to cover its striving for the restoration of capitalism with the slogan—"Soviets without Communists," calculated to deceive the masses. On March 18 the rebellion was completely liquidated.

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LETTER TO L. G. ELISMAN

26 — IV. 1921

Comrade Elisman!

According to the statement of the Supreme Council on Transportation, the delay in receiving from it the plan for the export of property from the Crimea will entail a delay in the export from the Crimea, which is impermissible.

I propose that you present the indicated plan to the Supreme Council on Transportation no later than Wednesday, 27/IV, for urgent consideration at a meeting of the Supreme Council on Transportation on Thursday, 28/IV–'21.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

P. S. I propose that you send me information about your property in the Crimea and about its export.

Lenin

Published from the typewritten text signed by V. I. Lenin; postscript from the manuscript

1 The letter to L. G. Elisman, member of the Central Commission of the Council of Labor and Defense on demobilization of military property and its transfer to civilian institutions, was written in connection with receipt of the following telephone telegram:

"Emergency telegram No. 2469/Supreme Council on Transportation 25/IV of the current year to the Administration of Affairs of the Council of Labor and Defense from the Supreme Council on Transportation.

I ask you to report urgently, out of turn, to the Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense Comrade Lenin the following decision, that on 24 April of this month the Supreme Council on Transportation decided: since non-receipt of the plan for export of property from the Crimea within the next two days will entail a temporary delay in export from the Crimea, which, in the opinion of the Supreme Council on Transportation, is impermissible, it requests the Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense to oblige Comrade Elisman to present the indicated plan to the Supreme Council on Transportation no later than Wednesday 27/IV of the current year for urgent consideration at a meeting of the Supreme Council on Transportation on Thursday 28/IV at 2 p.m. and for transmission to execution.

Signed: Administration of Affairs of Supreme Council on Transportation: Pokrovsky
Transmitted: Lineva
Received: Agol. 25/IV – '21 at 11 h. 25 m."

On the telephone telegram V. I. Lenin underlined in three lines the dates of sending and receipt "25/IV" and "25/IV – '21 at 11 h. 25 m.," then wrote: "received 26/IV. 12 o'clock" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the CPSU).

As L. G. Elisman wrote later in a commentary to this letter, on April 26 the secretary of the Council of People's Commissars L. A. Fotiyeva informed him by telephone that V. I. Lenin required the presentation to him of the plan for export of property from the Crimea. "Five minutes after our conversation," Elisman recalled, "a motorcyclist brought me the enclosed letter. I immediately with all materials and a copy of the export plan went to the Council of People's Commissars and after the explanation given to Vladimir Ilyich, the question was resolved" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the CPSU).

Elisman's report on the plan for export of property from the Crimea was discussed at an administrative meeting of the Council of Labor and Defense on April 27, 1921. The plan was finally approved at a meeting of the Council of Labor and Defense on April 29, 1921.

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NOTE TO I. S. UNSHLIKHT

1/V 1921

Secret

To Comrade Unshlikht, All-Russian Extraordinary Commission

I propose to bring the matter of the purchase of defective neosal­varsan to completion and punish most strictly both those guilty of the abuse and those persons through whose negligence this abuse was permitted. Report on execution.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Published from the typewritten text completed and signed by V. I. Lenin

1 The People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade, at the request of the People's Commissariat of Health, purchased 2 kilograms of neosalvarsan in Germany and had it delivered to Russia. Upon laboratory examination it was discovered that instead of neosalvarsan, the ampules contained a colored mixture of table salt.

Investigation of this matter lasted several months. On December 18, 1921, Deputy Chairman of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission I. S. Unshlikht informed the Manager of Affairs of the Council of People's Commissars N. P. Gorbunov that measures were being taken to bring to criminal responsibility for fraud the person who sold the counterfeit neosalvarsan, and that three employees of the people's commissariats of foreign trade and health were being brought to responsibility for negligence.

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RESPONSE TO E. A. LITKENS

[Earlier than May 4, 1921]

Vladimir Ilyich, I request your assistance in the following:

I The question about Grinberg has again been put up for discussion by the commission of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on review of the collegium. The commission decided: to propose the candidacy of Chudinov (Chief of Sibnarodbrazom), if the Central Committee agrees to call him from Siberia.

I considered this candidacy extraordinarily expedient—I have known him since 1917 (A. P. Smirnov also knows him): talented, energetic, conscientious, extremely loves his work; his defects—hothead—has not yet made any blunders. Help tear him away from Ivan Nikitich—he could even replace me.

II Malkin—is making a lot of noise—for him it would be necessary in a party manner to give a new direction to his energy.

III The situation of teachers is so bad that it is necessary urgently to release about 40 billion in paper money—for payment of debts accumulated due to small issue of paper money.

With your support I will introduce [this] to the Council of People's Commissars (without your support—hopeless).

E. Litkens

*The last phrase was written by V. I. Lenin.

---

1) Move the matter about Chudinov faster to the Politburo.
2) "Give" Malkin to the Organizational Bureau (or to Dzerzhinsky in the People's Commissariat of Railways?).
3) I agree—in principle—to support. Do not know precise facts.

1 E. A. Litkens—Deputy People's Commissar of Enlightenment.

2 D. K. Chudinov—in 1920 Chief of the Irkutsk provincial department of public education; in 1920–1924 Plenipotentiary of the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment in the Siberian department of public education.

3 On May 4, 1921, the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) decided to instruct the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment to reorganize, strengthen, and in the personal sense renew Tsentrpechat (Central Press).

4 On May 24, 1921, the Council of People's Commissars adopted a decision on the issuance to the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment of an additional 24 billion in paper money for the payment of unpaid wages to workers in enlightenment, with reservation of them to the provincial departments of public education.

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CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE PROJECT OF A DIRECTIVE OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b) TO THE PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AND DEFENSE AND PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOREIGN TRADE IN THE TRANSCAUCASIAN SOVIET REPUBLICS AND PROPOSALS TO THE PROJECT OF A DECISION OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b)

[May 4, 1921]

Project of Rabinovich and Lezava

To Comrade Rabinovich, appointed Plenipotentiary of the Council of Labor and Defense and People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade in the Transcaucasian Soviet Republics, the Central Committee of the RCP proposes to be guided in his work by the following basic provisions:

1. The Transcaucasian Soviet Republics (Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia) are [formally] independent and self-governing.

Re § 1
+ 1 – 1

The Plenipotentiary of the Council of Labor and Defense and People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade must, taking into account the sentiments of the broad masses of the population of the Transcaucasian Republics and the international conditions of the present moment, particularly scrupulously emphasize this independence.

*Corrections and additions made by V. I. Lenin are printed in regular type; the original text is printed in italics; what was crossed out by V. I. Lenin is printed in small type in square brackets.

2. Proceeding from the fact that the indicated republics recognize as necessary to unite the activity of their [economic] foreign trade organs into a single [economic council "VES"] foreign trade of the Transcaucasian Soviet Republics, within the competence of which falls the independent resolution of questions [of internal economic life] of foreign trade of the Transcaucasian Republics, the Plenipotentiary is charged with the task of ensuring to the fullest extent the independence of this organ with simultaneous assurance of the economic interests of the RSFSR in the Transcaucasian Republics.

3. To this end [in] questions relating to the field of organization of external commodity exchange and connected with this procurement and distribution of raw materials and other objects of export are resolved by the Transcaucasian Republics by agreement with the RSFSR [and only after a coordinated decision are carried into effect]. All types of raw materials and other objects of export are divided into two parts: one for satisfying the internal and commodity-exchange needs of the Transcaucasian Republics [and needs of commodity exchange with Turkey and Persia] and another, falling at the disposal of the RSFSR.

[4. Within the limits of Turkey and Persia only the Transcaucasian Republics have their own trade representations. Their needs for purchases in the indicated countries the RSFSR fulfills through the trade representations of the Transcaucasian Republics; on the other hand, the Transcaucasian Republics do not have their own trade representatives in all other countries and all their import needs are satisfied by the RSFSR.]

§ 4. In order to avoid competition on the external market between the RSFSR and the Transcaucasian Republics, an agreement is concluded, in virtue of which their foreign representatives in each separate country act only by mutual agreement.

[5. For the purposes of foreign trade within the limits of Turkey and Persia the Transcaucasian Republics form, with the assistance of the RSFSR, their own independent currency fund and dispose of it independently.]

6. In the field of raising the economic level and developing the productive forces of the Transcaucasian Republics, concession policy will play an outstanding role. The Plenipotentiary is charged with the task of furthering the possible rapid actual realization of a series of [certain] concessions, consideration and completion of those already begun. Concessions within the limits of the contracting republics [may be granted] are granted to foreigners [only with the agreement] with the agreement of the RSFSR.

7. In the field of finance [there is impending] it is necessary to organize and make maximum use of some banking institution for the realization of our valuables, acquisition of currency, and organization of credit.

[8. For the purpose of productive use of Georgia as an independent republic for relations with foreign capital, [one must] strive to create in it such conditions which would make completely possible unobstructed business and commercial relations with the capitalist world.

9. The oil industry of Azerbaijan is distinguished in a completely special economic organization with direct subordination to the RSFSR and acts on the basis of a special statute.]

10. In the field of immediate work on questions of foreign trade and procurement of the export fund, the Plenipotentiary receives instructions from the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade, just as in the field of cooperative work the Plenipotentiary acts in accordance with a special agreement with Tsentrosouz, strictly observing the general decisions on this question of the 10th Congress and all the latest legislative acts of Soviet power.

11. Apart from the above, the Plenipotentiary of the Council of Labor and Defense is charged with the task of furthering to the fullest extent the development of local initiative, the development of local productive forces in the field of mining and agriculture and the implementation of the general plan with the RSFSR for electrification.

+ date of Rabinovich's departure
(2) 1 billion Soviet rubles
+ 1 million foreign and gold currency.

1 The project of directives of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) to the Plenipotentiary of the Council of Labor and Defense and People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade in the Transcaucasian Soviet Republics F. Y. Rabinovich with corrections and additions by V. I. Lenin was approved by the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) on May 4, 1921.

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NOTE TO A. M. NIKOLAYEV

[May, no later than May 14, 1921]

Introduce in the Politburo on Friday, having prepared a collection of written opinions (including that of Krasin) and reports.

1 The document was written on a note from A. M. Nikolayev, member of the Collegium of the People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraph: "The whole thing is that this candidate (Dovgalevsky) cannot pass through the "purification" of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions, since he is not known to the Central Committee of Communications and is undesirable to it. To create a balance in the collegium, we need to thrust him on us from above by the Central Committee of the RCP, but Molotov does not want to offend Tomsky, so the matter drags on."

On May 14, 1921, at a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b), V. S. Dovgalevsky was included in the composition of the collegium and appointed People's Commissar of Posts and Telegraph.

V. S. Dovgalevsky from 1919 to 1921 was a member of the commission of the Council of Labor and Defense for the restoration of roads in Siberia and the Urals and commissar of the management of communications and electrical engineering of the People's Commissariat of Railways.

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ASSIGNMENT TO L. A. FOTIYEVA

Fotiyeva

Demand a report on the results of the inspection from Fomin.

23/V 1921

Lenin

1 The assignment was written on a letter from V. V. Fomin, Deputy People's Commissar of Railways, to V. I. Lenin. Reporting on good speed of trains with grain on the Omsk, Perm, and Northern railways and expressing doubt in the soundness of complaints from a member of the Collegium of the People's Commissariat of Food A. B. Khalatov about the delay of grain shipments, Fomin promised to check the statement of the food workers.

On the document there is a note from the secretary: "Executed by telephone."

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TELEGRAM TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE KRASNODAR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Telegram

Caucasus, Krasnodar, To the Chairman of the Executive Committee

Copy: Moscow, Granitny, 14, apt. 7, Yarilov

I request that you return to the family of Arseny Yarilov all property, clothing, linens, and other household things requisitioned from it on March 24 in Krasnodar, as well as from the German subject, Bavarian peasant woman Teresa Maurer, who lived in the family. In case of impossibility of returning the confiscated property, I propose to compensate in kind. I confirm that Yarilov neither by property characteristics nor by ideology can be attributed to the bourgeois class.

May 30, 1921

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

Published from the typewritten text signed by V. I. Lenin

1 On May 28, 1921, V. I. Lenin received a letter from Professor A. A. Yarilov with a request to render assistance in the return of property requisitioned from him in Krasnodar, as well as to permit his seriously ill ten-year-old daughter to leave for treatment in Germany. On the letter of A. A. Yarilov, V. I. Lenin wrote an assignment to N. P. Gorbunov: "To Gorbunov. Read and help." On May 31, V. I. Lenin directed the following letter to the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission and the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs: "To the Special Department of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission. To the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs. I request permission for a seriously ill ten-year-old daughter of Yarilov to depart together with T. Maurer, who is returning to her homeland, to Berlin for treatment.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the CPSU).

In response to V. I. Lenin's telegram, the Presidium of the Kuban-Black Sea Regional Executive Committee decided to return the things to the family of Professor Yarilov and T. Maurer.

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LETTER TO I. S. UNSHLIKHT

1/VI 1921

Comrade Unshlikht!

Contrary to my precise warning not to confuse Pyotr Semyonovich Osadchiy with Pavel Sergeyevich Osadchim, an SR, a copy of the warning was also sent to the Petrograd Cheka, a search was conducted in Petrograd at the home of Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Commission Pyotr Semyonovich Osadchiy. I demand an immediate investigation, indication to me of the person guilty of the search by name and in person and bringing him to responsibility.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Published from the typewritten text corrected and completed by V. I. Lenin

1 On June 11, 1921, Deputy Chairman of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission I. S. Unshlikht sent V. I. Lenin a copy of a telegram from the Petrograd Cheka, which reported that rumors of a search at the home of Professor P. S. Osadchiy were false.

On the envelope of Unshlikht's letter Lenin wrote: "To the archives. About the search at Osadchiy's. NB."

See also the present collection, pp. 284, 288.

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ASSIGNMENT TO THE SECRETARY

[Not earlier than June 2, not later than June 4, 1921]

1) Write to Lezava that, perhaps, in my opinion, one ought to establish their own house (the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade) (by agreement with the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission) (give me [it] for signature).

2) Send this letter to Molotov for information.

1 The published document was written on a letter from G. V. Chicherin from June 2, 1921 to V. I. Lenin regarding L. B. Krasin's proposal to permit entry to three representatives of a Norwegian firm for inspection of a factory in Petrograd for the purpose of obtaining a concession on it. Taking into account the current negotiations for concluding a trade treaty with Norway, Chicherin wrote that "the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs does not see sufficient grounds for permitting the indicated persons to come to Petrograd and Moscow." Furthermore, he pointed out, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs does not have the ability to provide private foreigners with housing and food, and the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade did nothing to create a hotel for the business people invited by it from abroad.

2 Below this point, the Secretary of the Council of People's Commissars L. A. Fotiyeva wrote: "Communicated to Lezava. Will take measures."

3 The question of the concession of the Dubroyka factory was discussed at a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) on June 4, 1921. A decision was adopted to permit the entry into Russia of Norwegian concessionaires; to instruct the Petrograd Executive Committee to arrange for them "in material respects on commercial principles." It was also decided to propose to the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs and the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade "to work out a precise written agreement on which department and on what conditions should take upon itself the arrangement of arriving foreigners for payment, on commercial principles" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the CPSU).

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NOTE TO N. P. BRYUKHANOV

[June 3, 1921]

To Bryukhanov:

What to do? One must help!

Lenin

1 The published note was written below a telegram from Penza, signed by the Chairman of the Provincial Executive Committee, Provincial Committee of the Party, and Acting Provincial Food Commissar. The telegram reported on the catastrophic situation with food supply in the province and the stoppage of factories in connection with this. The leaders of the provincial organizations also wrote that "Penza Province timely fulfilled one hundred percent of the food assessment," and asked "as an exception to permit the uncoupling of twenty cars for Penza from passing food trains."

The words "timely fulfilled one hundred percent" V. I. Lenin underlined with two lines and, having crossed them off on the margin with two round brackets, wrote: "NB."

Below the text of the telegram there is a response from A. B. Khalatov, member of the Collegium of the People's Commissariat of Food from June 3, 1921, that he "has given an order permitting uncoupling of the first passing food train" (underlined by V. I. Lenin).

Below this response there is a notation by V. I. Lenin: "to the archives."

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LETTER TO THE CENTRAL STATISTICAL ADMINISTRATION TO P. I. POPOV

6/VI 1921

TO THE CENTRAL STATISTICAL ADMINISTRATION

COMRADE POPOV

Comrade Popov!

In addition to our conversation, I must add that the character of the work of the Central Statistical Administration requires a radical change.

At present the Central Statistical Administration, having collected on 28/VIII 1920 the richest material and conducting extensive current statistics, tends toward the publication of general-type collections, bulletins, etc.

This should be placed in second place.

We have no paper and printing facilities.

The organs of the Central Statistical Administration must be closer, more immediately connected with the provincial economic councils and the Council of Labor and Defense. Reports and summary work by the Central Statistical Administration should be done on the basis of its own manuscript materials.

Have these materials been brought into a state permitting quick reports (and summaries) on all questions?

The main thing that the Central Statistical Administration lacks and with which it should occupy itself first and foremost is the servicing of the practical needs of socialist reorganization. To this the bourgeois statistical institutions never adapted themselves. Our Central Statistical Administration follows the old rut. This cannot be.

Distribution of food by the state from the point of view of the rationality of this distribution and the raising of labor productivity; —and measures for closing unnecessary establishments for the concentration of production in a minimum of the best establishments; —strengthening of fuel production; —its delivery; —economy in its consumption; —ways to check this economy; —ways to check the correspondence between the quantity of food issued by the state and the results of work, the size of production; —the same for the economic work of the army; —the same for the work of offices and Soviet institutions in the center (people's commissariats) and on the ground (executive committees, their departments); —here is an approximate listing of some of the most important questions.

Bourgeois statistics never did this.

Our Central Statistical Administration should occupy itself with this. Put the question. Compile immediately a list of the most important, first-priority, practical subjects of the indicated character. Distribute the work. Encourage the initiators, the best statisticians, who are at the head of such work.

I request you to put this question and inform me of the practical results, the plan of work, the measures being taken.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense Lenin

Published from the typewritten copy

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EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH I. A. THEODOROVICH

[1921, earlier than June 14]

To Comrade Theodorovich:

How is your health? What happened to you? Do you not need to arrange rest for yourself? How are things with the meat tax?

I had influenza. Now I feel better. Rest can be arranged after the arrival of Comrade Osinsky.

With the meat tax urgent work is proceeding in contact with Comrade Potuyev (Chief of Glavryba—Main Fish Administration).

With seeds we are doing all that is possible with the greatest strain of forces.

---

1 I. L. Theodorovich—Deputy People's Commissar of Agriculture.

2 The reference is to the meat tax decree being worked out in accordance with a resolution of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of March 21, 1921, on the replacement of the food and raw materials assessment with a natural tax. The "Decree on Natural Meat Tax" was confirmed by the Council of People's Commissars on June 14, 1921 (see "Collection of Laws and Orders of the Workers' and Peasants' Government" 1921, no. 51, art. 281, pp. 375–377).

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TOWARD A PROJECT DECISION OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b)

[June 30, 1921]

I am absolutely for Chicherin.

Lenin

1 On June 30, 1921, the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) put to a vote a question raised by the Crimean Revolutionary Committee on the creation of an independent Commissariat of Foreign Affairs in the Crimea. In connection with this, G. V. Chicherin submitted to the Politburo a proposal: "absolutely reject any hints at the creation of a separate Commissariat of Foreign Affairs in the Crimea. He will be our representative for technical purposes and nothing more" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the CPSU).

Chicherin's proposal was accepted.

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LETTER TO THE ALL-RUSSIAN EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSION

[June 30, 1921]

TO THE ALL-RUSSIAN EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSION

Copy
People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraph

I request that you send me information on the arrest of specialist and inventor of wireless telegraphy Ayzenshteyn and engineer Shvarts, who heads our Electrical Trust.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

P. S. On each of them
1) When was he arrested?
2) By whose order?
3) Reason for arrest?
4) Who is conducting the investigation?
5) Evidence?
6) Conclusion about the possibility of release?

Lenin

Published from the typewritten text signed by V. I. Lenin; postscript from the manuscript

1 In response to his query V. I. Lenin received responses from the People's Commissar of Posts and Telegraph V. S. Dovgalevsky, Chairman of the Collegium of the Electrical Department of the Supreme Council of the National Economy N. N. Vashkov, and a report from the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission. The latter reported that the Head of the Radio Department of Electrical Communications, engineer S. M. Ayzenshteyn, was released from arrest due to lack of proof of the accusation; as regards Deputy Chairman of the Central Board of the Electrical Trust, engineer A. A. Shvarts, he is accused by the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission of economic espionage in favor of foreign firms, and the investigation against him is not yet concluded.

*Letters of similar content on the same day were directed to the People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraph to V. S. Dovgalevsky and to the Supreme Council of the National Economy to N. N. Vashkov.

On the envelope of Dovgalevsky's letter V. I. Lenin wrote: "(((arrested engineers Ayzenshteyn and Shvarts (to the archives). About two engineers" (Central Party Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the CPSU).

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LETTER TO A. M. LEZAVA

Comrade Lezava!

I am returning [this]. My impression is not in favor of Rabinovich. He spent from 22/V to 11/VI and not a single business proposal. Only exclamations and ahs!

Is this really all he had? Nothing more sensible? Still "did not think [it] through completely"??

With comradely greetings,
Lenin

2/VII [1921]

Published from the typewritten copy

1 This refers to a letter from F. Y. Rabinovich, Plenipotentiary of the Council of Labor and Defense and People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade in the Transcaucasian Soviet Republics (the letter has not been found).

See also the present collection, pp. 293–295.

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EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH E. M. SKLYANSKY

[Between July 5 and September 2, 1921]

To Sklyansky

I myself already defended this idea in principle, requiring (and Frunze agreed): to take into the army principally youth from the starving provinces.

Lebedev's thought is correct. Let him think a bit, consult with some people, and either introduce [this] to the Council of Labor and Defense or write to me. Lebedev speaks not about the army, but about labor, militia, labor army, mass labor, etc.

ON THE ARMY, if you recall, the question was raised in the Politburo, where it was decided to apply class selection everywhere, not only in the hungry regions. Of course, it will also be necessary in the army, and it should first be drawn from there. But it is necessary to entrust someone with developing — not about the army, if you agree. To Sklyansky.
So what then?
Should we create a commission now?
We should still work on it a bit more.

1 M. V. Frunze — at this time commander of the forces of Ukraine and Crimea, plenipotentiary of the Revolutionary Military Council in the Ukrainian SSR.

2 V. I. Lenin has in mind the proposal of the chief of the Field Staff of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic concerning the recruitment of volunteers in famine-stricken gubernii, set forth in his official memorandum to the deputy chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic E. M. Sklyansky on July 3, 1921. He wrote that the population of regions affected by crop failure was streaming into the cities. At the same time, there was a shortage of labor in agriculture, in the construction of electric power stations, in logging, and labor armies, militia and other forces were understaffed.

On the memorandum there is a notation by Sklyansky supporting P. P. Lebedev's proposal and a mark about bringing the question before the Council of Labor and Defense.

3 On September 2, 1921, the Council of Labor and Defense approved the draft decree submitted by E. M. Sklyansky on the recruitment of 20,000 volunteers not employed in state enterprises and institutions in famine-stricken gubernii for staffing the Ukrainian people's militia.

LETTER FROM L. N. KRITSMAN

[Between July 8 and 13, 1921]

I must leave on leave due to illness. But meetings will be possible. Give a precise memorandum to Fotiyeva and keep watch. You can always talk by telephone. Write specially to the Orgburo.

1 Written in response to a request from L. N. Kritsman to establish for him, as chairman of the Commission for the Utilization of Material Resources under the Council of Labor and Defense, "fixed reception hours, if possible, once a month for an hour and once a month for ten minutes" (TsPA IML at CC CPSU). He also requested support in the Orgburo of the CC RCP(b) for the candidacies of M. Z. Manuilsky and N. P. Shakhov­tsev proposed by him for approval as members of the Commission.

On August 29, 1921, the Orgburo of the CC RCP(b) decided to recall Manuilsky from Pskov for work in the Utilization Commission. On August 17, the Council of Labor and Defense confirmed Shakhovtsev as a member of the Commission, and on [date] — Manuilsky.

LENIN MISCELLANY

REMARKS AT THE MEETING OF THE GERMAN DELEGATION OF THE III CONGRESS OF THE COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL WITH MEMBERS OF THE CC RCP(b)

JULY 9, 1921

In my opinion, the Central Committee is absolutely right in putting forward concrete demands. But how can one influence a person who stands outside the party? Party members declare that they stand on the position of the congress. What declarations are required: refusal to cooperate in the "Council," cessation of fractional activity. An obligation from the CC must also be recorded. The CC declares that it gives the opposition freedom of criticism and will observe this decision. That says it all. We are here as members of the Communist International and we demand from those who enter the Communist International the observance of discipline. In connection with Levi, it was said that there will be a crisis in the party. We have experienced several such crises, when we criticized our comrades quite openly. Lenin recalls in this connection a case from the history of the Russian party, which came to mind when he was looking through Pravda. The Mensheviks attacked us for this, to which we replied: you may triumph, respected opponents, but the party must observe discipline and must not fear uncovering its shortcomings. It is dangerous if we will keep silent about our shortcomings. In this sense, it would be useful to stop speaking of a crisis and instead adopt such decisions so that we all together answer the enemy: we have a genuine International which corrects our mistakes; show us your International.

One cannot permit such expressions to be used. It is absolutely impermissible to doubt that there is someone here who cannot carry out the decisions of the congress. This thought must be condemned.

* CC of the United Communist Party of Germany.

The statement by Talheimer is perfectly clear; Kenen spoke of Levi's letter to the CC. Malzan asserts that Levi will submit to the decision of the congress. Perhaps it would be possible to encourage him to leave of his own accord. Is there a necessity for those who have expressed solidarity with Levi to make written statements against him? If this will further hamper cooperation, why insist on it? There have already been serious conflicts in the Bolshevik party of Russia, but I cannot recall an instance where we resolved them in such a formal manner. We must end with declarations, and immediately, if the comrades say that Talheimer's statement is the basis for an agreement. We have an Executive Committee which exercises control and can carry out organizational measures. Is it really advisable for written statements against Levi to be made immediately? I believe that if we show good faith, we will find an appropriate form or wait a little and will not insist on something that could hamper the matter. The CC was absolutely correct in declaring that Malzan and Zetkin must enter the Central Bureau. This will facilitate joint work.

It is better to have a document so that what has been discussed for an hour and a half is set forth in formulated form. I propose adopting Zinoviev's proposal.

I propose voting on whether the results of the discussion should be fixed in writing. The proposal is adopted with two abstentions. Thus Zinoviev's proposal passes.

Printed from the text of the protocol. Translation from the German.

1 The meeting of the German delegation of the III Congress of the Comintern with representatives of the opposition in the United Communist Party of Germany (K. Zetkin, P. Neumann, H. Malzan) and members of the CC RCP(b) took place under the chairmanship of V. I. Lenin before the plenary session of the congress, at which a decision was to be made on the lessons of the March 1921 uprising in Germany and the situation in the UCPG.

By the time of the III Congress of the Comintern (June 22 — July 12, 1921), the internal party struggle in the UCPG had become extremely acute. On the one hand, a struggle developed in the party against the right-opportunist position of P. Levi; after the defeat of the March 1921 uprising, Levi published a pamphlet "Unser Weg. Wider den Putschismus" ("Our Path. Against Putchism"), in which he placed all responsibility for the defeat of the March uprising on the communists, calling it a "Bakunist putsch." For a gross violation of party discipline and harm to the party caused by the publication of the pamphlet, P. Levi was expelled from the party, and the CC of the UCPG demanded that he surrender his parliamentary mandate. The Executive Committee of the Comintern approved the decision of the CC of the UCPG on expelling P. Levi from the party, and the III Congress of the Comintern confirmed this. In evaluating the March uprising, a number of members of the CC of the UCPG, including K. Zetkin, O. Brass, P. Neumann, H. Malzan, expressed solidarity with P. Levi.

On the other hand, the "theory of the offensive," advanced in the party leadership in conditions of the party and working class being unprepared for armed uprisings and the heavy defeat of the Central German proletariat in March 1921, prevented a correct evaluation of the mistakes made by the CC of the UCPG during the March uprising, weakened the party's influence among the masses, and created a threat of isolation of the proletarian vanguard.

At the III Congress, questions of theory and tactics of the German party were hotly debated. It was necessary to help the UCPG overcome both right-opportunist tendencies and left-sectarian errors, mobilize the party for serious work to win the masses and careful preparation of revolution.

The evaluation of the March 1921 uprising in Germany and the "theory of the offensive" was given in V. I. Lenin's speech at the congress in defense of the tactics of the Communist International (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 44, pp. 23–33).

2 On behalf of the CC of the UCPG, A. Talheimer in his speech demanded from all party members work in accordance with the tactical line developed by the III Congress of the Comintern, and from members of the former opposition in the UCPG — cessation of collaboration with P. Levi in his journal "Sowjet" ("Council"), submission of members of the parliamentary faction to the decisions of the CC, cessation of all fractional activity, and a statement that P. Levi must surrender his mandate as a Reichstag deputy. Members of the former opposition were granted the right of criticism and freedom of discussion in the party press. These points, in the opinion of the CC of the UCPG, were to form the basis for further joint work with the former opposition.

3 These words of V. I. Lenin are a response to the following passage in F. Heckert's remarks at the meeting: "Regarding Levi's Reichstag mandate, the matter is special. Levi declared that he would renounce the mandate given him by the Central Bureau and the district where he was elected only when eight of his friends, who came out with a statement of solidarity with him, agree. Since Comrades Zetkin, Malzan and Neumann are here, it is legitimate for us to demand that they influence Levi to renounce his mandate" (TsPA IML at CC CPSU).

4 "Sowjet" ("Council") — a monthly journal published by P. Levi, issued in Berlin from June 1919 to June 15, 1921. After the expulsion of P. Levi from the United Communist Party of Germany, the journal, changing its direction, from July 1, 1921, began to appear under a new name: "Unser Weg" ("Our Path"). Publication of the journal ceased at the end of 1922.

6 V. I. Lenin has in mind the adventurist tactics of a small group of members of the Petrograd Committee of the party (Bagdatiev and others) who put forward during the April demonstration of 1917 the slogan of immediate overthrow of the Temporary Government contrary to the party's course toward peaceful development of the revolution in that period. The behavior of this group was condemned by the CC of the RSDLP (Bolsheviks), which adopted at that time a special resolution written by V. I. Lenin and published in Pravda No. 39, May 6 (April 23), 1917 (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 31, pp. 319–320 and vol. 44, pp. 58–59).

6 This remark of V. I. Lenin was occasioned by the following statement of P. Neumann at the meeting: "Frisland asserts that there is no evidence that the 'right wing' will fulfill what they are now promising. I, on the other hand, hold the view that we have no assurance that some members of the CC, because of their ideological position, will be able to fulfill the decisions of the congress. What guarantee do we have that members of the CC will fulfill the decisions adopted here?" (TsPA IML at CC CPSU).

7 V. I. Lenin has in mind the statement of A. Talheimer that all those who loyally stand on the positions of the decisions of the III Congress of the Comintern should be drawn into work in the party, and that in order to undermine the influence of P. Levi in the party, former members of the opposition should declare that he is retaining his Reichstag mandate without their consent.

August Talheimer — from 1918–1923, a member of the CC of the Communist Party of Germany and editor of the central organ of the KPG "Die Rote Fahne" ("The Red Banner"). In 1921 he stood on "left" positions; one of the authors of the so-called "theory of the offensive."

8 This refers to P. Levi's letter to the CC of the UCPG refusing to surrender his mandate as a Reichstag deputy.

Wilhelm Könen — a figure in the German and international communist movement. Participated in revolutionary movement from the 1900s. From 1920 — a member of the Communist Party of Germany, was a delegate to the III Congress of the Comintern.

9 Heinrich Malzan — a German social-democrat, then communist. Was a delegate to the III Congress of the Comintern from the CC of the United Communist Party of Germany. In 1921 he was expelled from the KPG as a centrist.

10 Clara Zetkin — an outstanding figure of the German and international labor and communist movement. One of the founders of the Communist Party of Germany. At the III Congress of the Communist International she was elected to the Executive Committee of the Comintern.

11 At the meeting of the delegation, a proposal was adopted to set forth in writing A. Talheimer's statement on behalf of the CC of the UCPG and a counter-statement by former members of the opposition.

At the plenum of the congress on July 9, 1921, on the German question, a resolution was submitted on behalf of the CC of the UCPG and the Russian delegation and a statement on behalf of former members of the opposition to be entered in the minutes (see "The Third World Congress of the Communist International. Stenographic Report." M., 1922, pp. 440–443). The congress unanimously adopted the resolution "The March Events and the United Communist Party of Germany," which expressed confidence that unified work within the UCPG on the basis of the decisions of the III Congress was feasible and that any formation of fractions within the party the congress regarded as the greatest danger to the entire movement (see "The Communist International in Documents. Decisions, Theses and Appeals of the Congresses of the Comintern and Plenums of the ECCI. 1919–1932." M., 1933, p. 225).

The decisions of the III Congress of the Comintern were discussed at the Jena Congress of the Communist Party of Germany, held August 22–26, 1921. To the congress V. I. Lenin wrote a letter to German communists (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 44, pp. 88–100). The Jena Congress of the KPG approved the decisions of the III Congress of the Comintern. K. Zetkin was included in the CC of the UCPG elected at the congress.

12 G. E. Zinoviev proposed setting forth in writing the statement by A. Talheimer as well as counter-statements of the opposition and putting the signatures of delegation members under them. V. I. Lenin in his remarks responds to H. Malzan, who proposed not formulating the statement in written form.

LETTER TO B. M. VOLIN

July 13, 1921

Dear Comrade!

I have received your letter and I am instructing Comrade Smolyaninov, who serves as assistant to the manager of affairs on all economic questions and especially on all work of the Council of Labor and Defense, to discuss with you in greater detail the possibility of your participation in the work of the Council of Labor and Defense. It would be, of course, extremely pleasant to me if you could work systematically in the Council of Labor and Defense. It is also necessary to discuss this question with Comrade Molotov, who will probably insist on the necessity of having you for work in one or another gubernial executive committee.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from a typewritten copy.

1 B. M. Volin — from 1918–1921, chairman of gubernial executive committees in Oryol, Kostroma, Kharkov, secretary of the Bryansk gubkom of the RCP(b), deputy people's commissar of internal affairs of the Ukrainian SSR; subsequently — in journalistic and scholarly work.

2 The present document is a response to a letter from B. M. Volin of July 6, 1921. Reporting on having suffered a serious illness, Volin wrote: "Because of the state of my health I will not be able to go to the provinces for a long time; I propose myself entirely for work in the Council of Labor and Defense." The underlined words were marked by V. I. Lenin on the margin with three vertical lines and he wrote: "NB." On the envelope of the letter, the inscription made by Volin, "From Boris Volin," Lenin underlined and wrote: "To Smolyaninov" (TsPA IML at CC CPSU).

By decision of the Orgburo of the CC RCP(b) of August 22, 1921, B. M. Volin was appointed editor of "Agitrost."

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SECRETARY

1. I have received from the Italian delegate Maffi and his comrades a letter in which they ask to hasten the issuance of passes, as they need to leave especially urgently. Confer about this in my name with Axelrod and, if necessary, with the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs.

2. Through Axelrod, inform Comrade Maffi and his comrades that I am ill and therefore cannot receive them, but that I send them warm greetings.

Lenin

Dictated over the telephone, July 14, 1921 at 8:30 p.m.

Printed from a typewritten copy.

1 Fabrizio Maffi — at that time a member of the Italian Socialist Party. In 1921 he founded and headed a faction of the "Third International" within the Socialist Party, which then merged with the Communist Party. Was a delegate from the Italian Socialist Party to the III Congress of the Comintern. In 1922 he joined the Italian Communist Party; from 1924 — a member of the CC of the ICP.

2 On the document there is a notation by the secretary: "At 9 p.m. spoke by telephone with Comrade Axelrod. He promised to do everything and inform the secretariat."

T. L. Axelrod — head of the press department of the Comintern.

INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY

Answer him: I very much approve. Would he not, best of all, get in touch with the Kaisarov commission?

July 14, [1921]

1 The instruction was written on the upper part of a letter to V. I. Lenin from M. P. Pavlovich, member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Nationalities and chairman of the Scientific Association of Oriental Studies. Reporting that he had engaged major specialists to work on compiling maps for a geographical atlas, Pavlovich further wrote: "I believe that it would be necessary to draw up for an educational atlas in place of the previous stereotypical maps — Europe, Asia, America, Australia, Africa — five or six basic maps: 1) the British Empire with its colonies, spheres of influence, semi-colonies, etc. in all parts of the world; 2) the same for France; 3) the same for America; 4) the same for Japan; 5) possibly Italy. With different shades of color, it will be possible to mark the degree of dependence of various countries on them. We will counterpose to all these imperialist powers the RSFSR with its ideological zones of influence in the East and West. Do you approve of this idea?"

On the document V. I. Lenin wrote: "Answered July 15."

On the question of publishing a geographical atlas, see also V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vols. 51, 52, 53, 54.

2 This refers to the Special Scientific Commission for Compiling a Geographical Atlas, chaired by V. D. Kaisarov.

MEMORANDUM TO V. M. MOLOTOV

[July 1921, earlier than July 22]

Comrade Molotov!

I request that an order be given (from the Secretariat of the CC or the Orgburo) for sending abroad, in view of the conclusion of Professor Pletyonov, member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Health, comrade Duge and People's Commissar of Health Semashko.

Lenin

1 On July 22, 1921, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs issued P. G. Duge a visa to travel to Germany.

MEMORANDUM TO G. M. FISHER AND INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY

Comrade Fisher!

I am unable to be in Moscow due to illness. I request that you speak with Smolyaninov or Fotiyeva.

July 24, [1921]

Lenin

Send such a letter and see him.

Lenin

1 The present memorandum is a response to a request from G. M. Fisher to receive him. Fisher wrote that in the 1890s he worked at Petrograd factories and attended a circle on Karl Marx's economic theory, which Lenin conducted. He also wrote that he had met Lenin in London at the Third Congress of the RSDLP.

On the envelope of Fisher's letter V. I. Lenin wrote: "To Fotiyeva."

MEMORANDUM TO THE VChK, TO I. S. UNSHLIKHT

July 27, 1921

To the VChK
To Comrade Unshlikht

I request urgent notification of the reasons for the arrest in Kolpino of the priest Boyarsky, in Petrograd of the chemist Tikhvinsky, and of the former minister S. S. Manukhin, and whether their release is possible.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from a typewritten text signed by V. I. Lenin.

1 On July 29, 1921, I. S. Unshlikht informed V. I. Lenin that according to information received from the Petrograd gubernial ChK, the priest Boyarsky, the chemist Tikhvinsky, and S. S. Manukhin were arrested on sufficiently substantial grounds and cannot be released.

On Unshlikht's report V. I. Lenin made the notation: "to archive."

Later A. I. Boyarsky and S. S. Manukhin were released. M. M. Tikhvinsky — an engineer-chemist. After the October Revolution — a professor of the Petrograd Technological and Mining Institutes, manager of the laboratory division of the Chief Oil Committee of the VSNKH. Participated in a conspiracy against Soviet power in 1921. Shot by order of the Petrograd ChK on August 24, 1921.

See also V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 53, p. 169.

MEMORANDUM TO V. M. MOLOTOV

Comrade Molotov!

In my opinion, not send away, but arrest. One cannot allow such things to slide with malicious Mensheviks, to which this Lorman clearly belongs. I am putting it to a vote in the Politburo.

July 29, [1921]

Lenin

1 The present document was occasioned by the following circumstance. M. Lorman, representative of the CC of the Bund in Poland, who was in Moscow, attempted to illegally send documents abroad for organizing a hostile campaign against Soviet Russia.

The Executive Committee of the Comintern appointed a commission to examine this matter, consisting of A. S. Barsky (chairman), Béla Kun, and I. S. Unshlikht.

In the commission's materials sent to the CC RCP(b), it was reported that Lorman, "one of two delegates of the CC of the Bund" who had arrived for negotiations with the Executive Committee of the Comintern regarding the admission of the Bund to the Communist International, had been admitted "as a delegate with consultative voice to the congress of the Comintern." In his defense, Lorman cited the fact that "both he and his organization are opponents of the policy of the Soviet government toward certain opposition parties in Russia" (underlining these phrases, V. I. Lenin marked them with three vertical lines in the margin and placed three exclamation marks).

Considering Lorman unworthy of conducting negotiations with the ECCI, the commission recommended his immediate expulsion from the territory of the RSFSR. Not agreeing with the commission's opinion, V. I. Lenin wrote the published proposal.

The Politburo of the CC RCP(b), having reviewed on August 2, 1921, the conclusion of the Comintern commission, proposed "to arrest Lorman and conduct an appropriate investigation" (TsPA IML at CC CPSU).

See also the present volume, p. 317.

TELEPHONE REPORT TO V. M. MOLOTOV WITH PROPOSALS FOR THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b) AND INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY

Comrade Molotov

I have received the minutes of the decision of the commission of the Little Council of People's Commissars on the question of supplementing the Little Council with 3 workers, that is, members of the Little Council. I propose to consult the members of the Politburo and, if there are no objections, immediately send for approval to the Great Council.

Lenin

August 5, 1921

Comrade Molotov

Chicherin is pressing for a final decision regarding Goldenberg. I am joining my request — appoint immediately and confirm the appointment by consulting all members of the Politburo.

Lenin

August 5, 1921

Printed from a typewritten copy.

Comrade Burakov

Confer with Molotov!

1 On August 19, 1921, the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) agreed with the proposal of the chairman of the Little Council of People's Commissars A. S. Kiselev to introduce A. A. Belov to the Little Council of People's Commissars. The Politburo also deemed it necessary to assign for permanent work in the Little Council of People's Commissars to assist the chairman three workers-businessmen to supervise the execution of decisions and for "direct business assistance to the localities, who would simultaneously be members of the Little Council of People's Commissars" (TsPA IML at CC CPSU).

On August 23, 1921, the Council of People's Commissars confirmed A. A. Belov as a member of the Little Council of People's Commissars.

2 On August 5, 1921, the Orgburo of the CC RCP(b), proposing that the Main Political Education Administration confirm I. P. Goldenberg as head of ROSTA, also placed upon him the direction of the Information Department of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs.

3 M. N. Burakov — at this time technical secretary of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b).

MEMORANDUM TO V. M. MOLOTOV

Comrade Molotov!

Comrade Chicherin continues to write extremely alarming papers about the fact that employees of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs are fleeing because of the deprivation of their rations. I think it is necessary to take emergency measures and, even by way of exception, temporarily leave them their previous rations.

Lenin

August 6, 1921

Dictated over the telephone.

Printed from the secretary's notes.

1 In view of the difficult food situation, the question of rations for the employees of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs and the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade was raised several times in August-September 1921 at meetings of the Orgburo and Secretariat of the CC RCP(b). On August 5, the Orgburo approved a commission of representatives of the CC party, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, and the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade to prepare a decision on this question. On August 13, the Secretariat of the CC proposed that the People's Commissariat of Food Supply issue the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs from August 1 to 15, 100 rations for responsible workers and 200 enhanced rations. On September 12, the Orgburo accepted the commission's proposal and approved 650 rations for the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs.

INSTRUCTION TO V. A. SMOLYANINOV

To Smolyaninov: Ask how this matter is moving forward.

August 6, [1921]

Lenin

1 The document was written on the covering letter of the manager of the State Commission for the Liquidation of Property Insurance M. I. Semenov to his report on the restoration of property insurance (underlined by V. I. Lenin).

By order of V. I. Lenin, a commission was created to work out this question, consisting of: N. P. Bryukhanov, P. A. Bogdanov, M. F. Vladimirsky, I. A. Theodorovich, and V. A. Smolyaninov (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 53, pp. 15–16). By decision of the Little Council of People's Commissars of August 5, 1921, this commission was liquidated and further working out of the decree on state insurance was entrusted to the Finance Commission.

In response to V. A. Smolyaninov's inquiry, he was informed from the People's Commissariat of Finance that the draft decree on state property insurance was adopted by the Finance Commission and on September 3 was submitted to the Council of People's Commissars for approval.

On October 6, V. I. Lenin signed the decree of the Council of People's Commissars "On State Property Insurance" and on October 19, 1921, it was published in Izvestia of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, No. 234.

INSTRUCTION TO L. A. FOTIYEVA

Write to her that I read the letter, left due to illness, and instructed you to answer: Tagantsev is accused so seriously and with such evidence that it is impossible to release him now; I have made inquiries about him more than once already.

August 10, [1921]

Lenin

1 This concerns a response to a letter from A. Yu. Kadyan, who knew the Ulyanov family from Simbirsk. In the letter to V. I. Lenin, she asked to alleviate the fate of her arrested nephew V. N. Tagantsev.

V. N. Tagantsev — a professor. One of the leaders of the conspiracy against Soviet power in 1921. By order of the Petrograd ChK on August 24, 1921, he was shot.

See also V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 52, pp. 278–279.

At the top of Kadyan's letter V. I. Lenin wrote: "To Fotiyeva: see p. 4," and on the fourth page the published document is written.

TELEPHONE REPORT TO K. B. RADEK

Comrade Radek

I have not yet received the documents you are sending me. I request that you take a copy of my letter to the congress from Comrade Zinoviev, who, as I hoped, should have shown it to you.

August 16–21

Lenin

Dictated over the telephone.

Printed from the secretary's notes.

1 On August 15, 1921, K. B. Radek informed V. I. Lenin that he would send him his materials: a letter to the congress of the United Communist Party of Germany, sent several days earlier, an article, and a covering letter addressed to the German CC.

K. B. Radek — from March 1920, one of the secretaries of the Executive Committee of the Comintern.

2 This refers to "Letter to German Communists" (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 44, pp. 88–100).

MEMORANDUM TO L. B. KAMENEV

Comrade Kamenev

In my opinion, not serious. If you think it useful, send it to Krasin and others for a report.

August 19, [1921]

Lenin

1 This concerns a proposal by B. Gofman, member of the Tver gubkom of the RCP(b), to issue an "Internal Loan of the Volga Region." Sending V. I. Lenin a copy of Gofman's letter, V. A. Smolyaninov reported that he had sent this letter to the People's Commissariat of Finance for a report.

MEMORANDUM TO V. M. MOLOTOV

Comrade Molotov:

In my opinion, Bryukhanov is right. It is necessary to satisfy his request (through the Politburo).

August 26, [1921]

Lenin

1 Written on a letter from N. P. Bryukhanov, deputy people's commissar of food supply, to A. S. Enukidze, secretary of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, copy to V. I. Lenin, on the procedure for including new districts in the list of famine-stricken gubernii and on the procurement of raw materials in famine-stricken areas. The letter pointed out that insufficiently motivated expansion of the territory of famine-stricken areas, practiced by the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Central Commission to Aid the Starving, could only complicate the difficult situation and weaken the struggle against hunger in those districts which clearly needed broad assistance. For the purpose of establishing a more normal order for the passage of decisions concerning aid to the starving, Bryukhanov submitted to the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee measures worked out by the People's Commissariat of Food Supply. He also proposed being stricter about including new territories in lists of famine-stricken districts and henceforth to examine questions concerning aid to the starving with the mandatory participation of a representative of the People's Commissariat of Food Supply.

TELEGRAM TO T. M. PONOMARENKO

Telegram

Pavlovsk

Plenipotentiary of Council of Labor and Defense, Deputy People's Commissar of Food Supply, Ponomarenko

In response to your No. 576: report in greater detail, and most importantly, more precisely, what is this forced commodity exchange and what is in fact the given equivalent. Briefly, but precisely and clearly by telegram; details by letter.

Chairman of Council of Labor and Defense Lenin

Moscow, Kremlin,

September 2, 1921

Printed from a manuscript, collated with a typewritten copy.

1 In the difficult conditions of the famine and crop failure of 1921, the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Food Supply, for the purpose of increasing grain procurement, submitted to the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) a proposal for conducting "forced commodity exchange" in Siberia, essentially violating the principle of voluntariness of commodity exchange operations. This proposal was considered by the Politburo on July 2 and 9, 1921. By decision of July 9, the decision of the Politburo of July 2 approving the proposal of the People's Commissariat of Food Supply on "forced commodity exchange" in Siberia was reversed, as contradicting the fundamental principles of the new economic policy. "The People's Commissariat of Food Supply must remember," it was emphasized in this decision, "that the new food policy, in accordance with the decision of the recent party conference, has been introduced seriously and for a long time" (TsPA IML at CC CPSU). V. I. Lenin strictly followed to ensure that such attempts would not be repeated. This explains his inquiries, in particular to the people's commissariat of food supply of Kirghizia and the plenipotentiary of the Council of Labor and Defense and People's Commissariat of Food Supply of the RSFSR on food work in the Akmolinsk and Semipalatinsk gubernii T. M. Ponomarenko (see also V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 53, pp. 148, 236 and Lenin Miscellany XXIII, p. 145).

To the published inquiry, T. M. Ponomarenko replied to V. I. Lenin on [date] by telegram. In it, he reported that "grain procurement was carried out mainly in the order of obligatory state commodity exchange, with payment to the population of the full value of goods at the existing state equivalent" (TsPA IML at CC CPSU). Somewhat later, Ponomarenko sent V. I. Lenin a detailed report on this matter and materials to it.

From the report it is clear that forced commodity exchange was understood as payment of the grain delivered (after fulfillment of the assessment) entirely in goods at an equivalent of 1:3.

INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY

Ask Popov (or his deputy) whether an agreement has been reached with the Ukrainian SSR.

September 3, [1921]

Lenin

1 The document was written on a covering letter from the Central Statistical Administration to a draft agreement between the Central Statistical Administration of the RSFSR and the Central Statistical Bureau of Ukraine, submitted to the Council of Labor and Defense. P. I. Popov, manager of the Central Statistical Administration, was at this time conducting negotiations in Kharkov with the Central Statistical Bureau of Ukraine on the terms of the agreement.

Under the text of the published instruction there is the following notation: "Agreement was not reached. Inquired N. Lepeshinskaya. September 6, 1921."

N. S. Lepeshinskaya — an employee of the secretariat of the Council of People's Commissars and Council of Labor and Defense.

See also the present volume, p. 322.

MEMORANDUM TO V. M. MOLOTOV

Confidential Comrade Molotov

Comrade Molotov!

In my opinion, keep him [for] ½ year (sentence [him] to ½ year for a vile offense) and expel forever from Russia. It is necessary to teach the villains a lesson so they will not dare [to do it again]. Barsky is wrong.

September 4, [1921]

Lenin

1 The document was written under the text of a letter from A. S. Barsky (from Berlin) of August 20, 1921, addressed to I. S. Unshlikht, deputy chairman of the All-Union Extraordinary Commission (copies: to G. E. Zinoviev, V. I. Lenin, K. B. Radek). Barsky wrote that he considered the arrest of Lorman (see the present volume, p. 311) politically inadvisable and proposed expelling him immediately from the territory of the Republic. He wrote that two members of the Polish CC shared this opinion.

The Politburo of the CC RCP(b), having reviewed the Lorman question a second time, agreed with the conclusion of the All-Union Extraordinary Commission about his release.

TELEPHONE REPORT TO A. M. IGNATIEV

Telephone report to Alexander Mikhailovich Ignatiev (deliver through Krasin)

I insist absolutely that you take upon yourself the work at Gokhran, which Krasin and Krestinsky are proposing to you. It is absolutely necessary that you enter into the work immediately. This is required by extremely vital interests. All objections must take a back seat. Inform the secretariat of the Council of People's Commissars by telephone report when you take office.

Lenin

Moscow, Kremlin

September 5–21

Printed from a typewritten copy.

1 The published telephone report was occasioned by a letter from People's Commissar of Foreign Trade L. B. Krasin of September 4, 1921. Informing V. I. Lenin about the state of affairs at Gokhran, about the necessity to strengthen it with a business-like person, Krasin wrote that he, as well as People's Commissar of Finance N. N. Krestinsky and member of the collegium of the All-Union Extraordinary Commission G. I. Bokiy, recommend A. M. Ignatiev for this work.

On Krasin's letter there are the following notations by Lenin: "to archive. By telephone September 5."

A. M. Ignatiev — plenipotentiary of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade in Finland, was at this time in Moscow.

See also V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 53, pp. 266, 270.

* On the document there is a notation by the secretary: "Delivered to Ignatiev by telephone (2 House of Soviets, 510). September 5, 1921, 9 p.m."

MEMORANDUM TO G. E. ZINOVIEV

Comrade Zinoviev

I do not object to sending Lunacharsky to Italy. They probably will not allow him. If they do allow, I advise formulating the instructions to him more carefully.

Lenin

September 8, [1921]

Printed from the secretary's notes.

1 This concerns the sending of A. V. Lunacharsky as a representative of the Communist International to the congress of the Italian Socialist Party (held in October 1921 in Milan). The Politburo of the CC RCP(b) on September 10, 1921, satisfied the request of the Presidium of the Executive Committee of the Communist International to send Lunacharsky to the congress, but his trip did not take place. Representatives of the Comintern at the congress were G. Valetsky and K. Zetkin.

TELEPHONE REPORT TO L. B. KRASIN

Krasin,
copy to Comrade Smolyaninov

I call your attention to the telegram from Rothstein of August 18 addressed to Chicherin; he complains of extraordinary chaos in the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade in Persia, asks [you] to warn the Council of Labor and Defense. Read this telegram and send Smolyaninov your report.

Lenin

Dictated over the telephone
[date]

Printed from a typewritten copy.

1 Under the text of the published telephone report there is the following notation, apparently by an employee of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade: "A reply was sent to Comrade Rothstein."

L. B. Krasin's report was not found.

MEMORANDUM TO N. P. GORBUNOV

Comrade Gorbunov! This concerns Botin (see the letter of G. M. Krizhanovsky). Get in touch with or telephone G. M. Krizhanovsky and carry through the appointment of these three (if Krizhanovsky does not add someone else and does not replace [them]). This must be formalized.

September 11, [1921]

Lenin

1 In the mentioned letter, G. M. Krizhanovsky, chairman of the State Planning Commission, wrote to V. I. Lenin that he considered the invention of S. I. Botin "an unsuccessful affair," but, not being a specialist in radio, proposed entrusting member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraph and chairman of the Radio Council A. M. Nikolaev to appoint three radio specialists to check the invention. He also reported that he had already spoken with Nikolaev (TsPA IML at CC CPSU). By order of V. I. Lenin, Nikolaev was assigned to S. I. Botin as a "specialist" and representative "on all the secrets of the inventor."

At the top of Nikolaev's letter to V. I. Lenin, in which he recommended including in the commission of specialists P. N. Novobranov, V. A. Pavlov, and V. N. Teikh, there is a notation by Lenin: "To N. P. Gorbunov reverse side," — where the published memorandum is written.

See also the present volume, pp. 206–207.

2 In response to N. P. Gorbunov's inquiry, G. M. Krizhanovsky answered that he approved the candidacies proposed by A. M. Nikolaev.

In the commission appointed by the Management of Affairs of the Council of People's Commissars were P. N. Novobranov (member of the Special Commission for the Construction of a Radio Telephone Network under the People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraph), as well as engineers V. A. Pavlov and V. N. Teikh.

See also the present volume, p. 327, and V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 53, p. 179.

DRAFT DECISION OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)

[September 13, 1921]

Instruct the Council of Labor and Defense on Wednesday:

To liquidate the commission, in view of the incorrect direction of the entire matter.

To grant the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic or individual members thereof [the right] to negotiate regarding the conclusion of the agreement with the presidium of the Moscow Soviet. Address the Council of Labor and Defense only for permission on those points of the agreement already signed by both sides which go beyond the competence of the Moscow Soviet department.

Submit a copy of the signed agreement to the management of the affairs of the Council of Labor and Defense.

Manuscript of the draft decision of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b).

September 14, 1921.

1 The published proposal was fully included in the decision of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) of September 13, 1921, on the question "Regulations concerning the Moscow Mixed Management at the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic" (TsPA IML at CC CPSU).

The Moscow Union of Combined Enterprises (Moskust) at the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic was created in autumn 1921 on the basis of several state farms under the direction of the military department and industrial enterprises taken by them into lease in the surrounding area, for the purpose of combining agriculture with industry. These combined enterprises, forming an economic whole, had the task of testing from below the correctness and expediency of the adopted decrees on economic questions.

See also V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 53, p. 84; vol. 54, pp. 56–57.

LETTER TO ALL SOVIET (INCLUDING MILITARY AND RAILROAD) AND PARTY INSTITUTIONS

September 13, 1921

To all Soviet (including military and railroad) and party institutions

I very much request that you render every possible assistance to the bearer of this letter, a member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture, Comrade Ivan Adolphovich Theodorovich, a long-time party worker personally known to me since before the revolution.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the secretary's notes.

DRAFT DECISION OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)

[September 14, 1921]

CONCERNING THE GOLD FUND

Instruct Alsky under his personal responsibility (in case of departure, transfer to another member of the collegium with the special consent of the CC) to ensure that:

1) the most strictly precise and rapid registration of all expenditures of the gold fund is conducted;

2) no expenditure of the gold fund is signed by the Council of People's Commissars, the Council of Labor and Defense, or the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee without the special consent of the Politburo.

3) A written brief report to the Politburo on the 1st and 15th of each month.

1 On September 14, 1921, the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) considered the question of the gold fund. The published draft was fully included in the Politburo's decision on this matter. "In the event of Comrade Alsky's departure," it is recorded further in the decision, "the submission of reports is entrusted to Comrade O. Yu. Schmidt" (TsPA IML at CC CPSU).

See also the present volume, p. 340, and V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 53, p. 176.

2 A. O. Alsky — at this time deputy people's commissar of finance of the RSFSR.

DRAFT DECISION OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)

[September 16, 1921]

Instruct the Council of People's Commissars to appoint a commission and submit its conclusion to the Politburo.

1 The Politburo of the CC RCP(b), having reviewed on September 16, 1921, the draft agreement between the Central Statistical Administration of the RSFSR and the Central Statistical Bureau of Ukraine, decided: "Instruct the Council of People's Commissars to appoint a commission to examine the draft agreement between the Central Statistical Administration of the RSFSR and the Central Statistical Bureau of the Ukrainian SSR and submit its conclusion to the Politburo" (TsPA IML at CC CPSU).

The commission was formed by decision of the Little Council of People's Commissars on September 19, 1921, consisting of P. I. Popov (chairman) and representatives of the People's Commissariat of Nationalities and the People's Commissariat of Justice. On September 30, the Little Council of People's Commissars instructed him to agree on the draft agreement with the secretary of the CC RCP(b).

See also the present volume, p. 317.

INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY

I request an answer that you have received [it], thank you and transfer it to my library.

September 20, [1921]

Lenin

1 This refers to a book sent to V. I. Lenin by the Berlin publishing house A. Seehof und Co., issued in 1921 under the pseudonym: Spectator. Sowjet-Russland in Zahlen. Das Wirtschaftsleben des alten und neuen Russland in 75 statistischen Tabellen dargestellt (Spectator. Soviet Russia in Figures. The Economic Life of Old and New Russia Presented in 75 Statistical Tables).

MEMORANDUM TO M. M. LITVINOV

September 26, 1921

Comrade Litvinov

copy to Pavel Petrovich Gorbunov,
member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs

I enclose the telegram from Karakhan to me.

I request that you clarify what is the matter here?

A misunderstanding? or negligence? Or worse?

With kind regards, Lenin

1 This refers to a telegram from L. M. Karakhan, plenipotentiary representative of the RSFSR in Poland, of September 23, 1921, in which he expressed dissatisfaction that he was not informed in time about a note from the Polish government to the government of the RSFSR.

In a note of September 18, 1921, the Polish government was demanding in an ultimatum that the Soviet side unilaterally fulfill by October 1, 1921, a number of provisions of the Riga Peace Treaty.

For the counter-note by People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs G. V. Chicherin to the chargé d'affaires of Poland in the RSFSR Filipovich, see "Documents of the Foreign Policy of the USSR," vol. IV, M., 1960, pp. 366–369.

On Karakhan's telegram V. I. Lenin made the notation: "Confidential, to archive."

2 On the same day deputy people's commissar of foreign affairs M. M. Litvinov wrote to V. I. Lenin that Karakhan's complaint "is based on a misunderstanding. For some reason he considers that 2 ultimatums have been presented, one orally and another in writing. We, however, have only taken into account the written ultimatum, and upon receiving it I gave Karakhan the appropriate instructions" (TsPA IML at CC CPSU).

# ANNOTATIONS ON D. B. RYAZANOV'S LETTER
To Comrade Lenin
To Comrade Bukharin*

I have already telegraphed from Vienna that I am able to purchase both the Grünberg library and the Mautner library. The first represents an extraordinarily rich collection of literature on the history of socialism. Besides journals, it includes almost all of the lithographed literature, a number of bibliographical rarities, and a magnificent collection of utopias.

Regarding the second, I have nothing to write to you about. You know it well. It is the only collection of unique items in the world. For the history of Marxism it is simply indispensable. Besides books, a large collection of engravings and portraits, a collection of coins from the time of revolution, and a large collection of autographs.

...

If we purchase these libraries, then we will have in Moscow the best library on socialism in the world...

Ryazanov

---

# ANNOTATION ON THE LETTER FROM D. B. RYAZANOV

*Underlined by V. I. Lenin.

By decision of the Orgburo of the CC RCP(b) on June 14, 1921, Director of the Institute of K. Marx and F. Engels D. B. Ryazanov was permitted to travel to Germany to purchase books for the Institute. The Orgburo decided to allocate 50,000 rubles in gold for this purpose and proposed to Ryazanov to apply to the CC for additional funds if necessary.

In connection with Ryazanov's letter, on September 23, 1921, the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) adopted a decision: "Transfer the money for the purchase of the Grünberg and Mautner libraries in the amount of 75,000 rubles in gold in the name of Stomonyakov with the obligation of economical expenditure and direct transfer of the corresponding sums directly to the library owners under the personal responsibility of Comrade Stomonyakov" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

Decided to give another 75,000 rubles.¹

Lenin

26/IX [1921]

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# NOTE TO M. I. FRUMKIN

Comrade Frumkin!

Measures must be taken to verify and obtain [the shipment].

27/IX [1921]
Lenin

*Underlined by V. I. Lenin.

1921

¹The document was written on a letter from G. V. Chicherin dated September 26, 1921, addressed to Commissar of Transport F. E. Dzerzhinsky. Reporting that the Turkish government had officially notified [the Soviet government] of the transfer of 40 percent of grain located in storehouses on the Black Sea coast of Asia Minor for the starving population of Russia, Chicherin wrote: "Given that this falls within the competence of NKPS, I turn to you with the request to take charge of this matter" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

M. I. Frumkin — Deputy Commissar of Food.

---

# PROPOSAL TO THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)*

It is necessary to discuss in the Politburo, in my opinion [missing text].

7/X [1921]
Lenin

¹The present document was written under the text of a letter from G. E. Zinoviev addressed by him to the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) on behalf of the bureau of the Petrograd provincial party committee and the presidium of the provincial soviet, in connection with the arson of a telephone station in Petrograd and other counter-revolutionary acts. The letter contained proposals for combating counter-revolution.

The Politburo, having discussed these proposals on October 10, 1921, instructed the GPU to strengthen security in Petrograd and Moscow at points of important public significance and created a commission composed of representatives of the GPU and the military department to develop concrete measures for strengthening security.

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# INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY

Send to Comrade Osinsky with a request to return [the document] to me and provide 2 words of review¹.

9/X [1921]
Lenin

¹The matter concerns a draft contract for agricultural concession proposed by the Berlin iron foundry and machine-building joint-stock company (formerly Freund and Co.).

L. B. Krasin, directing to V. I. Lenin for "familiarization with the proposal of the German society 'Freund'" (here and below underlined by V. I. Lenin), requested that "the copy be transmitted to Comrade Osinsky," who participated in preliminary negotiations in Berlin. On Krasin's note there is a marking by Lenin "On the concession 'Freund'."

N. Osinsky replied to V. I. Lenin the following day that he considered it necessary to accelerate the arrival of representatives of the Society for inspection of the lands on the spot. On his note Lenin wrote: "To Gorbunov + review by Radchenko"; underlining Gorbunov's name, Lenin circled the last two words.

Member of the collegium of the Commissariat of External Trade I. I. Radchenko expressed sharply negative views on the terms of the concession, considering them unacceptable.

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# ANNOTATIONS ON THE LETTER FROM M. V. KOBETSKY
AND NOTE TO M. I. GLÄSSER

Petrograd, 11/X 1921

Most Esteemed Vladimir Ilyich,

Your letter to the Congress of the V. K.P.D. was not published either in No. 18 of "Communist International" or in Nos. 1-2 of the "Bulletin" because I have still not been able to obtain the Russian text. I have applied both in writing and by telephone several times to Moscow, to the Secretariat of the Comintern, but without result, and to translate your letter from German I considered absurd.

I very much request that you order the Russian text of the letter to be sent to the Comintern (Money, 5)* on my behalf — I will be in Moscow tomorrow — and we will place it in No. 3 of the "Bulletin," which will be released next week, or in the nearest issue of the journal. It would be highly desirable to receive the letter as soon as possible.

With greetings devoted to you, M. Kobetsky

Glässer: I request [you] to obtain and send and verify receipt by Kobetsky².

12/X [1921] Lenin

¹M. V. Kobetsky — Head of the department of the Executive Committee of the Comintern.
M. I. Glässer — Worker in the secretariat of the SNK and STO.

²The letter in question is "Letter to the German Communists" (see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 44, pp. 88-100).

*Here and below underlined by V. I. Lenin.

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# LETTER TO V. S. DOVGALEVSKY

19. X. 1921

Comrade Dovgalevsky!

I request that you propose to Comrade Novobranoff, chairman of the commission on the Botin case (Comrade Nikolaev knows the matter), to accelerate the submission of its review and to this end correspond with Comrade Krzhizhanovsky¹.

Inform me of the deadline for submission of the review and of the further course [of the matter]².

Chairman STO V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

¹See the present collection, p. 320.

²On October 21, 1921, the Commissar of Posts and Telegraphs V. S. Dovgalevsky wrote to V. I. Lenin that, as P. N. Novobranoff informed him, the commission had begun work: it had traveled to the site, heard explanations from S. I. Botin, but, not having received from him all the required materials, was unable to give a review of the invention.

See also the following document.

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# NOTE TO N. P. GORBUNOV

Comrade Gorbunov!

Expedite this matter; take a written report from the Commission and correspond with Krzhizhanovsky².

21/X [1921]
Lenin

¹Written on the official report of V. S. Dovgalevsky on the case of S. I. Botin — see the previous document.

²Having familiarized itself with all materials of the invention and the conducting of experiments violating elementary conditions of technique, the Commission wrote on October 26, 1921, in its conclusion that it considered it necessary to immediately cease "any further continuation of whatever work" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

G. M. Krzhizhanovsky, returning to N. P. Gorbunov on November 1, 1921, the entire file on the experiments of S. I. Botin, called the author a "quasi-inventor."

---

# NOTE TO A. L. SHEINMAN

24/X [1921]

Comrade Sheinman!

You have received, of course, the directive of the Politburo.

I enclose the reference obtained (Comrade Belov in fulfillment of this directive)¹.

For now do not disclose [it].

Read it yourself only and return tomorrow with a few words of review.

Cordial greetings, Lenin

¹The matter concerns, apparently, the decision of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) of October 20, 1921, on the selection of a group of experienced consultants on questions of monetary circulation.

See also V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 44, p. 182.

A. L. Sheinman — Chairman of the Board of the State Bank.

A. A. Belov — Head of the State Universal Store (GUM).

---

# LETTER TO Y. V. LOMONOSOV, M. M. LITVINOV,
AND I. I. RADCHENKO

Comrades Lomonosov, Litvinov, and Radchenko

[October 27, 1921]

Your commission's conclusion of 27/X is not agreed upon¹.

If "immediately," then it is necessary to ask the SNK or STO to appoint this "special" delegation [at] 12 o'clock and to accelerate its departure.

I request each member of the commission to answer me on this.

Keep the entire matter in the strictest secrecy².

Chairman SNK V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from typewritten copy

¹I. I. Radchenko — Member of the collegium of the Commissariat of External Trade.

²The matter concerns the conclusion of the commission created by decision of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) for negotiations with the Swedish government, Swedish banks, and trade and industrial firms about concluding a monetary or commodity loan in Sweden. The commission included M. M. Litvinov (chairman), Y. V. Lomonosov, RSFSR Plenipotentiary in Sweden P. M. Kerzhentsev, and A. L. Sheinman.

See also V. I. Lenin. Complete Works, vol. 53, p. 309.

³Transmitting to V. I. Lenin the protocol of the commission's session (not found), M. M. Litvinov wrote that he "would consider it necessary to keep the matter secret." The following notations by V. I. Lenin appear on Litvinov's letter:

Krzhizhanovsky
"To Krasin —
"To Litvinov
"Commission on Swedish concessions and loan" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

---

# LETTER TO V. M. MIKHAILOV

31/X [1921]

Comrade Mikhailov!

Surely the doors are closed until the end of the purge?

And is it not possible to find out, what relation did this Shempolonsky (I don't know him) have to the "workers' opposition"?¹ I very much request that you gather information and inform me.

And upon return to the party, appoint a small period of "probation"².

Cordial greetings, Lenin

¹In response to the question regarding the procedure for admission to the party during the purge, Secretary of the CC RCP(b) V. M. Mikhailov wrote that there was no "special decision of the CC... forbidding any access to the party," and sent V. I. Lenin a pamphlet "On the Verification, Review and Purge of the Party." In it was published the "Instruction on the Procedure for Admission of New Members During the Verification." The "Instruction" indicated that during the period of "verification and purification of the RCP, admission of new members is permitted only in regard to workers, Red Army soldiers, and peasants." From the latter, only those not exploiting the labor of others are admitted, and those who have proved their loyalty to the Soviet power in the ranks of the Red Army, in Soviet construction, etc. (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

The party purge was conducted on the basis of the resolution of the Tenth Congress of the RCP(b) "On Questions of Party Construction." On June 21, 1921, the CC and CCC adopted the "Decision on the Question of Verification, Review and Purge of the Party," in which the timetable for conducting the purge was set (from August 1 to October 1, 1921).

The beginning of the purge was postponed to August 15; it continued until the Eleventh Congress of the RCP(b).

On the note from Mikhailov there is a notation by Lenin: "to archive."

²"Workers' Opposition" — an anti-party factional group; first appeared under this demagogic name in September 1920 at the Ninth All-Russian Conference of the RCP(b). The "Workers' Opposition" finally took shape in the course of the trade union discussion of 1920-1921.

³V. M. Mikhailov sent to V. I. Lenin a characterization of the bureau of the cell at the Military Academy regarding Shempolonsky. In it, it was reported that Shempolonsky had been in the party since 1917, that while in the Academy, he "showed himself as an unstable communist, quickly changing his convictions and views... In January 1921, he submitted a request to leave the RCP; on the basis of this request, he was expelled from the party by the District Committee. At the end of October, he submitted a request for readmission to the party...." The troika for party purification and the cell bureau refused Shempolonsky admission to the party, considering that "he could in no case be a member of the RCP" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

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# ANNOTATIONS ON THE NOTE FROM N. B. EISMONT
AND NOTE TO N. P. GORBUNOV

[1921, October]

Materials on Ridder and Ekibastuz, transmitted by Porotsky², should be in the VSNKH, but they are completely worthless and more complete and recent materials exist in the VSNKH. I myself have been there, even more. I worked and performed very responsible work in one of the boards of Urkarт in Petersburg before the revolution.

N. Eismont

Continue gathering all materials on Ridder more completely*.

¹The note of member of the presidium of the VSNKH N. B. Eismont is a reply to N. P. Gorbunov on the question of Ridder and Ekibastuz.

²"Comrade Porotsky," wrote N. P. Gorbunov, "is a responsible employee of Chuso, who produced procurement about two years ago in Semipalatinsk. Porotsky became interested in (at that time) Ridder and brought materials on it..." (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

Chuso — the apparatus of Chusosnabarmia, the Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of the Council of Workers' and Peasants' Defense for supplying the Red Army and Fleet.

³These materials interested V. I. Lenin in connection with negotiations that began in June 1921 concerning the granting of a concession for the development and extraction of mineral resources to the English industrialist and financier L. Urkarт. Before the October Revolution, Urkarт was chairman of the Russian-Asian United Society and owner of large mining enterprises in Russia (Kyshtym, Ridder, Tanalyk, Ekibastuz). Attaching great importance to this concession, V. I. Lenin constantly monitored the progress of negotiations and directed them — see V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 45, pp. 205, 216-217; vol. 53, pp. 38, 132, 190-191, 237, 312; vol. 54, pp. 3, 5-6, 105, 178, 284-285, 292, 295, 296, 303-304.

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# NOTE TO E. A. PREOBRAZHENSKYY

[November 1, 1921]

Comrade Preobrazhenskyy!

You see, the question has been worked out extremely poorly. To avoid an outrageous scandal, get down to the work entirely (You + Kamenev + Schmidt)¹.

Lenin

¹Written by V. I. Lenin during discussion at an SNK session of the question of tariff policy and the distribution of money for November 1921. The draft decree on tariff policy had been worked out insufficiently. Having adopted only the first point of the draft, Sovnarkom selected a commission composed of E. A. Preobrazhenskyy, L. B. Kamenev, and V. V. Schmidt, to which the remaining points of the draft were transferred for further work and instructed to reconsider the matter within a week, taking into account the declarations of the commissariats.

E. A. Preobrazhenskyy — Member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Finance.

V. V. Schmidt — Commissar of Labor.

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# ANNOTATIONS ON THE TELEGRAM FROM L. B. KRASIN
AND NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

Moscow, to Chicherin

Received the Curzon note in response to our statement on debts, [it is] transmitted to you by clerk. We advise not to hurry with the response and to direct it, in any case, through us, especially since in a few days I will probably see Lloyd George. In our opinion, it is necessary to declare that railway and city loans are recognized by us, but as regards claims by foreign firms, citizens, governments concerning losses during the period of revolution, the question is complex, which can be subjected to discussion only at a conference and necessarily in connection with losses and claims which will be presented by Russia in connection with the intervention and blockade. Regarding military debts for now it is possible not to mention, since Curzon silently swallowed our exclusion of these debts from our obligations. There will be time to speak of this in the note. It is extremely important to finally gather that political argumentational material regarding the obligations of the Entente toward Russia, which I have unsuccessfully requested for two years already from the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs. I spoke of this last time to Sabunin in Berlin. The main argument of ours regarding the military debt should consist in the fact that Russia's participation at that time saved England and France and that in general Russia was fooled all around and swindled in the imperialist war and even many European swindlers openly declared that Russia is not obliged to pay military debts. It is necessary to gather all this material.

Confirm receipt of this telegram.

November 2, 1921

Krasin

Comrade Chicherin! I request two words of review on points 1 and 2².

7/XI [1921]
Lenin

¹October 6-8, 1921, a conference was held in Brussels, in which representatives of 19 states participated, including England, France, Italy and others, as well as representatives of the International Red Cross and the ARA (American Relief Administration). The official purpose of the conference was to discuss the question of aid to Russia in connection with the famine of 1921. The conference recommended that governments provide credits to Soviet Russia for combating the famine only on the condition of Russia's recognition of the debts of the old governments and admission of a commission to control the distribution of products.

The Commissariat of Foreign Affairs prepared a draft statement on this question. V. I. Lenin's remarks on this draft see Complete Collected Works, vol. 44, pp. 185-188.

On October 27, the question of recognition of the debts of the old governments was discussed by the Politburo of the CC RCP(b). The Politburo decided "to adopt in principle the text proposed by Comrade Chicherin, with amendments from Comrade Lenin, and to instruct Comrade Chicherin to publish it over his signature" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU). The note of the Soviet government on this question was sent on October 28, 1921, to the governments of Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, and the USA (see "Documents of the Foreign Policy of the USSR," vol. IV, M., 1960, pp. 445-448).

The reply of the British Minister of Foreign Affairs Curzon to this statement of the government of the RSFSR is set forth in the published telegram of L. B. Krasin, on which V. I. Lenin made annotations and wrote a query to G. V. Chicherin.

On the envelope of the published document V. I. Lenin wrote: "to Comrade Chicherin (from Lenin)."

²On the question of debts (point 1) see the following document.

On point two G. V. Chicherin, explaining the delay in his reply to L. B. Krasin's query, wrote that the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs had to solve this task by its own forces, "some notes are already prepared, for others there is material." The completion of the work will be entrusted to S. S. Pilyavsky, a new employee of the NKID (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

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# ANNOTATIONS ON THE LETTER FROM G. V. CHICHERIN
AND NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN

November 4, 1921

To the Politburo of the CC RCP

Instead of answering, the English government asks us how we regard the question of recognition of other categories of debts — military, municipal, railway, as well as private [claims] for confiscated property.

The Collegium of the NKID proposes to answer evasively, namely: to say that we in our note definitely recognized indisputable debts, but as regards those which may for one or another reason be considered disputable or regarding which there are insufficient precise materials at the present moment and the quantity of which is unknown, we consider it expedient to leave the question about them until joint discussion with the powers. In this way we do not bind ourselves and at the same time do not give a negative answer.

Commissariat of Foreign Affairs: (Chicherin)

Comrade Chicherin!

Have you answered? In the way you wanted?

7/XI [1921]
Lenin

¹"There was no decision of the Politburo on this," wrote G. V. Chicherin to V. I. Lenin the same day, "and therefore the response has not been sent" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

On a copy of G. V. Chicherin's letter circulated to members of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) for voting, V. I. Lenin wrote: "I agree. Lenin."

M. I. Kalinin, L. B. Kamenev, and I. V. Stalin also made notes about their agreement. L. D. Trotsky did not support the proposal of the NKID. On G. V. Chicherin's reply to L. D. Trotsky and V. I. Lenin's opinion on this see the following document and the note to it.

---

# NOTE TO I. V. STALIN*

Comrade Stalin!

In my opinion, Chicherin is right¹.

7/XI [1921]
Lenin

¹The published document was written under the text of the reply of Commissar of Foreign Affairs G. V. Chicherin to L. D. Trotsky's proposal on debts.

Chicherin wrote: "Our proposal consists of [how] to avoid premature response to England's question of whether we will pay military debts, railway, municipal, and private [debts]. We propose in an appropriate logical formulation to transfer the question to the international conference that flows from our note." Decisively speaking out against Trotsky's proposal to answer substantively the question on debts, Chicherin wrote that such an answer would only reveal our cards and deprive the Soviet state of the possibility of further maneuvering, would complicate the beginning of negotiations on debts and could make them impossible (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

*On the envelope of this note V. I. Lenin wrote: "to Comrade Stalin (from Lenin)."

I. V. Stalin in reply to the published note wrote that he also found G. V. Chicherin's proposal correct.

On November 8, 1921, the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) approved Chicherin's proposal.

The telegram to L. B. Krasin on the question of debts see "Documents of the Foreign Policy of the USSR," vol. IV, M., 1960, pp. 492-493.

---

# NOTE TO V. M. MIKHAILOV
FOR MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)

Secret

Comrade Mikhailov

For the information of all members of the Politburo. In circulation.

I propose to cease publication as unnecessary¹.

8/XI [1921]
Lenin

¹The published document was written on the cover letter of the GPU about sending to V. I. Lenin the first issue of the journal "Review of Foreign Press" published by the GPU. On it there are also notations by members of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) about agreement with Lenin's opinion. Lenin's proposal was included in the decision of the Politburo of November 10, 1921.

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# MEMORANDUM FOR MEMORY

[November 9, 1921]

N.B.: In the SNK dining room arrange dinner for Adoratsky¹ and his wife (+ daughter), today itself clarify with [him] and this
Dinner in SNK dining room + Storozhev (member of the collegium of the Main Archive)², to the family an allowance or to the Main Archive up to 8 increased rations.

¹V. V. Adoratsky — at this time deputy head of the Central Archive Administration.

²V. N. Storozhev — professor, member of the collegium of the Main Administration of Archive Affairs of the Commissariat of Enlightenment (Main Archive).

---

# NOTE TO V. M. MOLOTOV

Comrade Molotov!

Read this and show Stalin and other members of the Orgburo. For information. It is necessary to take him into the VSNKH, because there it is weak¹.

12/XI [1921] Lenin

¹On October 27, 1921, the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) adopted a decision to appoint the old party member P. I. Sudakov, who worked as deputy chairman of the Northwestern Regional Economic Council, as member of the presidium of the VSNKH. On November 1, by decision of Sovnarkom, he was confirmed in this post.

The published document was written under the text of P. I. Sudakov's letter of November 11 addressed to V. I. Lenin, in which he, citing his insufficient preparation, expressed fear that he would not cope with the new work.

---

# NOTE TO V. A. SMOLYANINOV

Submit a draft decision to the STO¹.

12/XI [1921]
Lenin

¹The instruction was written on the official report of the assistant administrator of affairs of the STO on economic questions V. A. Smolyaninov concerning the conclusions of the VTSIK plenipotentiary for collection of food tax in Smolensk Province.

On November 18, 1921, the Council of Labor and Defense approved the draft decision submitted by Smolyaninov. The STO requested the VTSIK "to obligate its extraordinary plenipotentiaries on conducting the food tax campaign to submit in written form reports and practical conclusions stemming from the experience of work on collecting the food tax in various provinces in 1921" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

---

# NOTE TO G. M. KRZHIZHANOVSKY

Comrade Krzhizhanovsky!

For information: The Urals specialists, with whom Lomov spoke, spoke well of Maksimov¹.

Gapayev, geologist, honest man².

Domenov, specialist in platinum³.

Hasselblatt, the actual boss in the Industrial Bureau⁴.

22/XI [1921]
Lenin

¹A. Lomov (G. I. Oppokov) — member of the presidium and deputy chairman of the VSNKH.

K. G. Maksimov — at this time chairman of the Economic Council in the Urals.

²A. A. Gapayev — professor, director of the Ural Mining Institute.

³V. I. Domenov — mining engineer; at this time member of the board and deputy chairman of the Uralplatina trust.

⁴V. A. Hasselblatt — mining engineer; at this time head of the technical department of Uralprombyuro.

Prombyuro (Industrial Bureau) — local organs of the VSNKH created in major economic regions of the country.

---

# LETTER TO V. M. MOLOTOV

28/XI

Comrade Molotov! I forward the papers given to me by Comrade Sosnovksy¹.

In my opinion, it is necessary to:
1) gather additional information;
2) bring [the matter] to the Politburo for the purpose of readmission to the party;
3) consider whether it is not possible to send Panyushkin (together with Myasnikov the Uralite) to the Donbass under supervision of Pyatakov, Kviring, Rukhimovich.

Is it not possible to treat Panyushkin and Myasnikov together in the Donbass?

Lenin

¹The matter concerns the letter and statement of V. L. Panyushkin to the Central Committee of the RCP(b). Having analyzed and condemned his mistakes, Panyushkin requested to be returned to the party. "If the CC satisfies my request," he wrote, "then I request that as much as possible of this my statement be published, with your commentaries, on the pages of 'Pravda' as a lesson to others."

V. L. Panyushkin — member of the Bolshevik party since 1907. Active participant in the October Socialist Revolution and Civil War. In 1919-1920 he worked in the apparatus of the CC RCP(b) as a responsible organizer and instructor. Participated in the "Workers' Opposition," headed an anti-party grouping, the so-called "Panyushkin group," which appropriated to itself the name "Workers' and Peasants' Socialist Party." In spring 1921 Panyushkin was expelled from the party.

Directing Panyushkin's letter to the Central Committee and supporting his request for return to the RCP, L. S. Sosnovksy (at this time head of the agitprop department of the CC) wrote: "I will publish some excerpts from his letters in 'Pravda'." Sosnovksy's article "From the Life of the Party" was published in Pravda No. 285, December 17, 1921.

See also the present collection, p. 260.

²On November 28, 1921, the Orgburo and on December 1, the Politburo of the CC RCP(b), taking into account V. L. Panyushkin's old services, decided to accept him as candidate for the party for a period of 6 months so that he would prove by his work the sincerity of the statement he had submitted to the CC. The Politburo also decided to send Panyushkin to the Donbass at the disposal of the chairman of the board of coal industry of the Donbass G. L. Pyatakov "for business economic work" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

Speaking of "Myasnikov the Uralite," V. I. Lenin has in mind G. I. Myasnikov, who in 1921 was in party work in Perm Province. There he organized an anti-party group which conducted a struggle against the party's policy.

On August 22, 1921, the Orgburo recalled him from the Perm organization and left him at the disposal of the CC, in connection with which the question of his work was raised. On December 1, the Politburo decided to send him at the disposal of the Main Forestry Committee, and "determine the place of work by agreement with the Secretariat of the CC" (ibid.).

In 1922 Myasnikov was expelled from the party for anti-party activity.

See also V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 44, pp. 78-83.

E. I. Kviring — secretary of the Donetsk provincial committee of the CP(b)U.

M. L. Rukhimovich — chairman of the Donetsk provincial executive committee.

---

# NOTES ON THE DRAFT DECISION OF SNK
ON THE FORMATION OF A UNIFIED COMMISSION
FOR SYSTEMATIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT
OF ECONOMIC LEGISLATION

[November 29, 1921]

This liquidates 4 commissions:
1) Kursky, Larin¹ and others on economic legislation.
2) On trade VSNKH, Central Union, Commissariat of External Trade and others.
3) On cooperative bank, etc. (Kamenev and others).
4) Financial commission under chairmanship of Preobrazhenskyy.
5) Tariff.

For the purpose of unifying and accelerating the work of systematization and supplementation of the most recent economic legislation, SNK decides:

1. In place of special commissions under STO for systematization of legislation and regulation of trade, established by SNK decisions of November 1 of this year (no. 447, paragraphs 7 and 13), and commissions for developing legislation on cooperatives and finances, to establish one Commission composed of commissars or their deputies from VSNKH, NKZ, NKF, and NKYu.

2. On the aforesaid Commission is imposed the systematization and final development of economic legislation in the areas of industry, agriculture, trade, cooperation, transport, and finance.

3. The deadline for completion of the Commission's work is determined as: for legislation on industry December 6, on trade December 13, on agriculture and finance December 20, on cooperation and transport December 27.

4. During the period of the Commission's work all legislative proposals changing the already published decrees regulating the organization of industry, agriculture, trade, cooperation, transport, and finance are, prior to submission to SNK or STO, transmitted for consideration to the Commission.

5. It is incumbent on the commissariats to inform the Commission of all work being conducted by them on matters subject to the Commission's consideration.

(SNK 29/XI)

Draft from Kursky (+ Bogdanov + Kamenev).

Adopted today in SNK: postpone for one week.

Reviews from all commissariats no later than 30/XI at 9 p.m.

Lenin

The matter was transferred from SNK to the Politburo for 1/XII³.

¹Y. Larin — member of the presidium of Gosplan.

²P. A. Bogdanov — chairman of VSNKH.

³On December 1, 1921, the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) decided to create a commission to unify all economic and financial matters. On December 10, Sovnarkom adopted the decision: "For the purpose of unifying and accelerating the work of systematization and supplementation of economic legislation, establish an economic commission of SNK" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

The Commission came to be called the Higher Economic Commission.

---

# NOTE TO V. M. MOLOTOV*

Comrade Molotov! I petition the Orgburo for the fulfillment of this request on both points¹.

Regarding Makharadze I abstain, as I do not know him.

Write me two words about how you decided².

2/XII [1921]
Lenin

*On the envelope of this note V. I. Lenin wrote: "to Comrade Molotov (from Lenin)."

¹The document was written on the letter of I. I. Skvorcov-Stepanov to the CC RCP(b), in which he requested to extend his leave until February 1, 1922 "for completing the book on electrification." This concerns the book "Electrification of the RSFSR in Connection with the Transitional Phase of World Economy," which he was writing on Lenin's instructions. Skvorcov-Stepanov also requested to be released from the position of deputy chairman of the editorial board of Gosizdat and recommended appointing Philip Makharadze to this position.

The same day, December 2, 1921, the Orgburo of the CC RCP(b) extended leave to Skvorcov-Stepanov until February 1, 1922. The question of release from work at Gosizdat was decided to be coordinated with the chairman of the editorial board of Gosizdat N. L. Meshcheryakov.

²On December 5, 1921, the Orgburo approved F. I. Makharadze as deputy chairman of the editorial board of Gosizdat and released Skvorcov-Stepanov from these duties, leaving him as member of the editorial board.

F. I. Makharadze — party member since 1903, in 1921 — chairman of the RevCom, Commissar of Agriculture of Georgia.

---

# INSTRUCTION TO N. P. GORBUNOV

Comrade Gorbunov!

1) Compose a telegram from my name to Lomonosov.
2) Compose a draft SNK decision on the obligatory nature for Lomonosov of the directives of the People's Commissariat of External Trade, verify and submit to MSK, showing me²

3/XII [1921]
Lenin

¹The instruction was written in connection with a complaint from Deputy Commissar of External Trade A. M. Lezhava to V. I. Lenin. He wrote that Y. V. Lomonosov, Plenipotentiary of the Council of People's Commissars on railroad orders abroad, does not carry out the proposal of the Commissariat of External Trade to secure for the Trading Mission of the RSFSR in Berlin the house which he purchased for the railroad mission at state expense and registered in his own name. Lezhava also reported that Lomonosov does not carry out "even the most legitimate" demands of the Commissariat of External Trade, considering himself subordinate to Sovnarkom, and requested intervention by SNK.

²The Council of Labor and Defense, having discussed the draft decision on December 14, 1921 on the unification of trading activities of Soviet representatives abroad, recognized in principle the necessity that Y. V. Lomonosov in the fulfillment of railroad orders abroad be "accountable in the corresponding part to NKVT and NKPS," and instructed "the draft decision on this matter signed by Comrades Lezhava, Fomin, and Avanesov to be submitted for signature to Comrade Lenin" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

---

# NOTE TO V. M. MOLOTOV AND ANNOTATION
ON THE LETTER FROM I. S. UNSHLIKHT

Copy

To Comrade Lenin

Department — Presidium.

To CC RCP Comrade Molotov

I report for your information that today, the 27th, at 11 o'clock, the 4th session of the commission created by the Politburo for working out staffing and rates in foreign representations and trading missions was scheduled.

From the members of the commission appointed by the Politburo — Radek, Sheinman, Schmidt, Radchenko, Gorbunov, Martens — no one appeared, and only Comrade Schmidt gave notice that he could not attend the session.

Chairman of the Commission (signature)
A. Unshlikht

---

# NOTE TO N. P. GORBUNOV

Comrade Gorbunov!

I request you to direct, following the instruction of A. D. Tsyurupa, and to monitor the accelerated decision and execution¹.

8/XII [1921]
Lenin

¹V. I. Lenin has in mind the official report of former member of the Trading House "Yusuf Davydov and Co." N. I. Davydov. In this report addressed to the Chairman of SNK Davydov wrote that, using long-standing business connections in Persia, he could under certain conditions organize the procurement and delivery to the disposal of the Government of the RSFSR up to three million poods of wheat and rice.

On the official report there is the following notation from N. P. Gorbunov: "By order of Comrade Tsyurupa, direct to Comrade Lezhava. 9/XII. 21."

---

# NOTE TO UNIDENTIFIED ADDRESSEE

[1921]

Why have all the "gold" matters not been submitted to the Politburo?

This delay is unacceptable.

It is necessary to investigate the causes of the delay and henceforth not permit delays.

Comrade Molotov!

I propose: declare a reprimand for failure to notify.

4/XII [1921] Lenin

See also the present collection, pp. 321-322.

---

# TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO A. M. LEZHAVA

To Lezhava

I enclose herewith the request of Comrade Medvedeva¹ and reviews of her from Comrades Lepeshinskiy and Dumbadze².

I support the request and request its urgent execution; if there are any obstacles, report [them].

Lenin

Dictated by telephone

_____ [date missing] _____ 1922

Printed from typewritten copy

¹Physician S. V. Medvedeva-Ter-Petrosyan requested to be sent abroad as a specialist for acceptance and expertise of medications.

²P. N. Lepeshinskiy — prominent figure of the Communist Party.

V. E. Dumbadze — professional revolutionary; at this time — chairman of the executive committee of the Tiflis city soviet, member of the CC of the Communist Party of Georgia.

---

# LETTER TO G. E. ZINOVIEV

[January 12, 1922]

Comrade Zinoviev!

I learned today from the newspapers that parliamentary elections are forthcoming in England in early February¹; it is very regrettable that we did not speak yesterday.

In my opinion, it is necessary to convene an enlarged session of the Executive Committee of the Comintern and to adopt a detailed and well-motivated resolution, which must absolutely require of the Communist Party of England that all communists agitate and vote in the elections for members of the Labour Party², except only in those very few cases where it is possible to guarantee that voting for a communist would in no way give victory to a bourgeois candidate.

I request that you write to me when today you will be able to speak with me for two or three minutes by telephone³.

Lenin

Printed from typewritten copy

¹Parliamentary elections, scheduled for February, took place on November 15, 1922.

²On January 13, 1922, the presidium of the Executive Committee of the Comintern on the question of the forthcoming parliamentary elections in England decided "to recognize as absolutely necessary to recommend to the English communists to give support to the Labour Party" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

Somewhat later, the First Enlarged Plenum of the ECCI (took place February 21 — March 1, 1922) in a resolution on the English question proposed to the Communist Party in the interests of unity of the working class "to support the Labour Party in the general elections" ("Communist International in Documents. Decisions, Theses and Appeals of Congresses of the Comintern and Plenums of the ECCI. 1919-1932." M., 1933, p. 280).

³Under the typewritten text of the published letter, the duty secretary of Sovnarkom N. S. Alliluyeva wrote in her hand: "Zinoviev asked [me] to answer Vladimir Ilyich that he will speak with him between 8-9 o'clock; [it] was transmitted to Gorki."

---

# NOTE TO V. M. MOLOTOV
AND MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)*

To Molotov:
To Members of the Politburo.

In my opinion, for Genoa² this is not necessary.

Literature and belles-lettres. Let him do business work³.

16/I [1922]
Lenin

Most Esteemed Vladimir Ilyich!

For the Russian delegation at the forthcoming European conference in Genoa, it will undoubtedly be necessary to have more or less comprehensive statistical data on the state and evolution of the national economy of the RSFSR as a whole and its individual sectors.

The compilation of such a review-essay according to a plan approved by you and considered in the STO or SNK, in my opinion, could be entrusted to the Central Statistical Administration...

With comradely greetings, P. Popov

¹V. I. Lenin has in mind the forthcoming International Economic and Financial Conference; it took place in Genoa (Italy) from April 10 to May 19, 1922.

²The Politburo of the CC RCP(b) on January 18, 1922, rejected P. I. Popov's proposal.

*On the envelope of this note V. I. Lenin wrote: "personally to Comrade Molotov (from Lenin)."

---

# NOTE TO Y. E. RUDZUTAK*

[1922, January, no earlier than 28]

Comrade Rudzutak!

You must leave now. You will arrive at the Congress. Do not waste time on serious treatment¹.

Your Lenin

¹The published document was written on the back of a letter from chairman of the Central Asian Bureau of the CC RCP(b) Y. E. Rudzutak from January 28, 1922. Reporting that he would depart for treatment in Germany as soon as he received a visa, Rudzutak wrote that he would like to be at the forthcoming Eleventh Congress of the Party.

See also V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 54, pp. 92 and 199-200.

*In the upper part of Y. E. Rudzutak's letter is the following notation by V. I. Lenin: "to Comrade Rudzutak on back."

---

# LETTERS TO V. M. MOLOTOV FOR THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)

To Molotov
for all members of the Politburo

Regarding the question of publishing the Marchand pamphlet, perhaps Chicherin is right and it should be suspended.

30/I 1922

To Molotov for tomorrow's session of the Politburo

Regarding the Marchand pamphlet, it is necessary to take into account the communication from Krestinsky and Remer and, perhaps, to proceed in the following manner: to prepare the pamphlet in full, stereotype the composition, and ensure the possibility of its release in two days, if this should prove politically expedient¹.

Lenin

1/II 1922

Dictated by telephone

Printed from notes taken by secretary

¹The published documents were written in connection with letters from G. V. Chicherin to V. M. Molotov for the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) from January 30 and 31, 1922, regarding the publication of Rene Marchand's pamphlet directed against Poincaré. Reporting that, in the opinion of RSFSR Plenipotentiary in Germany N. N. Krestinsky and employee of the trading mission in Berlin F. Remer, immediate publication of the pamphlet is politically inexpedient, as it could damage negotiations with the Germans, Chicherin requested to raise this question in the Politburo.

Rene Marchand — employee of the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, "chief of publication of documents of political significance of the old governments" (TsPA IML at the CC CPSU).

²Lenin's proposal was accepted on February 2, 1922, by the Politburo of the CC RCP(b); it was entirely incorporated into the decision.

In 1922, a book was published in France: Rene Marchand. La Condemnation d'un Regime. De la "Vanite maladive de M. Poincare" a la "Tuerie mondiale" (Rene Marchand. Condemnation of a Regime. From "The Morbid Vanity of Mr. Poincaré" to "World Slaughter"). In it, on the basis of documents from the archive of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the role of the Poincaré regime in unleashing the imperialist war of 1914-1918 is revealed.

---

# LETTER TO I. V. STALIN AND L. B. KAMENEV

Comrades Stalin and Kamenev

Since Kamenev frightened me yesterday by saying that sometimes it takes 21 days to travel from Turkestan, I propose to send immediately a stern telegram from the name of the Politburo to Fomin¹ and all members of the collegium of NKPS that we will subject them to strict punishment if energetic measures are not taken for rapid delivery of Ioffe² to Moscow. Let each day they report to the Secretariat by telephone, where his train is.

Lenin

1/II 1922

Dictated by telephone

Printed from notes taken by secretary

¹V. V. Fomin — Deputy Commissar of Transport.

²A. A. Ioffe — at this time chairman of the Commission of the VTSIK and SNK of the RSFSR on Turkestan Affairs and member of the Turkburo of the CC RCP(b).

---

# NOTE TO N. P. GORBUNOV

To N. P. Gorbunov

Do not forget to inquire in Kharkov about the Ukrainian inventor who postponed his trip due to illness. Is the reason really illness or is it just an excuse?¹

1/II 1922

Lenin

Dictated by telephone

Printed from notes taken by secretary

¹The matter concerns I. A. Cheyko.

On November 26, 1921, an article "A Remarkable Discovery" was published in Pravda. In it, it was reported that Kharkov electrical engineer I. A. Cheyko had discovered "new rays" emitted by a magnetic field, whose heat effect makes it possible to explode at a distance without wires mines, artillery warehouses, etc. These rays, according to the author of the article, could also be used in mining and chemical industry, geodesy, medicine, etc. Interested in the report, V. I. Lenin the same day wrote to G. M. Krzhizhanovsky and asked him to verify the seriousness of the invention, attract prominent scientists to this, and instructed N. P. Gorbunov to "take this matter under observation" (see Complete Collected Works, vol. 54, pp. 37-38 and 67).

---

# LETTER TO G. Y. SOKOLNIKOV

Comrade Sokolnikov

The materials which you gave Stalin on the question of the gold fund of valuables are long and disjointed. I request that you report to me the results of the following 2 figures:

1) On hand as of such-and-such a date such-and-such millions (such-and-such gold, silver, platinum, ingots of valuables),
2) from this stock such-and-such completely free from any obligations whatever (i.e., from payments under signed contracts, orders placed, etc.).

I request that you report to me by telephone message tomorrow at _____ o'clock in the morning in the name of Fotiyeva.

3/II 1922

Lenin

Dictated by telephone

Printed from notes taken by secretary

¹G. Y. Sokolnikov — at this time deputy Commissar of Finance of the RSFSR.

NOTE TO USER: This section begins on page 224 of the original text and is primarily comprised of documentary records (notes, letters, and notices) from 1922. I will translate these materials faithfully, preserving Lenin's emphatic style, structure, and all relevant annotations.

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**NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN**
11. II [1922]

Comrade Chicherin,

I request you to have pages 120 extracted and utilized, then return the book to me.¹

With communist greetings, Lenin

¹ The reference is to the book by A. Margolin, *Ukraine and the Policy of the Entente (Notes of a Jew and Citizen)*, published in Berlin in 1921. On the cover, in the upper part, V. I. Lenin wrote: "Lenin's Copy." Below the title — "NB. p. 120: secret treaty of England and France on spheres of influence in Russia."

"From the most reliable sources," printed on page 120 of the book, "I learned of the existence of a secret treaty between England and France on the spheres of influence of these states on the territory of European Russia" (here and below underlined by V. I. Lenin). "I do not know the exact date of the treaty, but in any case it precedes the time of the conclusion of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk" (this text Lenin marked in the margins with four vertical lines and made the notation: "NB").

"According to this treaty," printed further in the book, "England is assigned a sphere of influence in northern Russia (the forest zone), in the Baltic, in the Caucasus, in the Kuban and in the eastern part of the Don. Ukraine, the Crimea, Poland and the western part of the Don are included in the sphere of influence of France.

Subsequently, both in Paris and in London, I encountered facts at every step confirming the existence of this secret treaty..." (Central Party Archive—Institute of Marxism-Leninism of the Central Committee CPSU)

---

**NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN**
18/11 [1922]

Comrade Chicherin!

I received your letter with the radio dispatch from "Temps." If this is an error on the part of Radek and Lapinsky, write me a bit more detail. I too think that both these comrades are not diplomats.²

With communist greetings, Lenin

¹ This refers to G. V. Chicherin's letter to V. I. Lenin of February 16, 1922, in which he wrote: "I am sending you a French radio dispatch with a report on the latest article in 'Temps'" (underlined by V. I. Lenin). The editorial article in "Temps" commented on an interview by L. B. Krasin with the London correspondent of the French bourgeois newspaper "Le Matin" ("The Morning"). In the interview, Krasin spoke of the desirability for Soviet Russia of an agreement with France. On this occasion, "Temps" wrote in a hostile tone that Soviet Russia was seeking agreement with individual governments, in particular on the question of debts, thereby attempting to avoid a united front of capitalist countries at the forthcoming international economic and financial conference in Genoa.

In the upper part of Chicherin's letter there are the following notations by Lenin: "Confidential (from Chicherin) to archive" (Central Party Archive—Institute of Marxism-Leninism of the Central Committee CPSU).

"Temps" ("Le Temps" — "Time") — a daily newspaper; published in Paris from 1861 to 1942. The newspaper was in fact the official organ of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

² V. I. Lenin refers to the interview of K. B. Radek with the correspondent of "Le Matin," in which he discussed negotiations with the French government and permitted attacks against England in the process. It was published simultaneously with the interview of L. B. Krasin.

On Radek's interview see also V. I. Lenin, *Complete Collected Works*, vol. 54, p. 176.

In the aforementioned letter of V. I. Lenin dated February 16, 1922, G. V. Chicherin wrote: "It seems to me that Lapinsky, who influenced Radek, has led us into a serious error." This phrase V. I. Lenin not only underlined but also marked on the margins with two vertical lines and wrote: "NB" (Central Party Archive—Institute of Marxism-Leninism of the Central Committee CPSU).

P. L. Lapinsky — at this time a staff member of the RSFSR Plenipotentiary Mission in Germany.

---

**LETTER TO A. S. ENUKIDZE***

Comrade Enukidze!

Thank you for sending the list of comrades with automatic telephones.

I request you add:

+ Theodorovich, I. A., Deputy Commissar of Food¹
+ Sokolnikov
+ Fomin, Deputy Commissar of Railways
+ M. N. Pokrovsky
+ Litkens
+ Editor of "Izvestiia" (Steklov)¹
+ N. K. Krupskaya³
+ Editor of "Pravda"
+ Secretary or Administrative Division of the Central Committee
+ Administrative Division of the Council of People's Commissars — N. P. Gorbunov (already have: No. 111)
(Glässer?)
+ Secretary of the Council of People's Commissars, L. A. Fotiyeva
+ Litvinov, Deputy Commissar of Foreign Affairs²
+ Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Communist International (IKKI), if this is not Safarov³
+ People's Commissariat of Social Welfare, Milyutin⁴

It seems to me that you should also send this to the members of the Politburo and to Molotov, so that they can submit their own additions; then close the list, keeping approximately 50 numbers in a special reserve for contingencies, and take from this reserve only under especially strict conditions (for instance, agreement of you + Molotov + myself).

For the GPU, twenty is insufficient, especially if we count dacha telephones of Politburo members as GPU telephones.

Perhaps you would find it convenient to send the list of numbers to N. P. Gorbunov so that each newly added number is telephoned to him and he prepares a copy for me?

Greetings! Your Lenin

18/11 [1922]

¹ Yu. M. Steklov — editor of "Izvestiia of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee."
² M. M. Litvinov — from 1921 Deputy People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs.
³ G. I. Safarov — member of IKKI, chief of the Eastern Department of the Comintern.
⁴ N. L. Milyutin — Deputy People's Commissar of Social Welfare.
⁵ N. K. Krupskaya — member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Education, director of the Chief Administration of Political Enlightenment.

* On the envelope of this letter V. I. Lenin wrote: "personally comrade Enukidze (from Lenin)."

---

**NOTE TO N. P. GORBUNOV**

Comrade Gorbunov!

Answer him most kindly that I have read it.

I am ill. I cannot do it.

Arrange for him a meeting concerning the loan question with L. B. Kamenev, Zinoviev, and Sokolnikov (or with one of them)¹.

22/II [1922]

Lenin

¹ The present document was written beneath the text of a letter from the General Secretary of the Foreign Committee for the Organization of International Workers' Aid to Starving Soviet Russia (Mezhrabpom), W. Münzenberg, to V. I. Lenin. He reported that it had been clarified that it was possible to organize an international proletarian loan to assist Soviet Russia, and asked to receive him for a discussion on this question.

The first international proletarian loan was issued in the autumn of 1922; the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR assumed responsibility for it.

On the letter there are the following notations by V. I. Lenin: "To N. P. Gorbunov at the end" (the published note is written there); "Willy Münzenberg."

See also V. I. Lenin, *Complete Collected Works*, vol. 45, pp. 315—316.

---

**NOTATIONS ON A LETTER FROM D. S. POSTOLOVSKY TO A. D. TYURUP**
**AND ON A NOTE FROM N. P. GORBUNOV**

FROM THE LETTER OF D. S. POSTOLOVSKY

Most Esteemed Aleksandr Dmitriyevich!

In fulfillment of your wish, I am sending you the draft version that I have prepared of articles 1—? of the Regulations on Obligations Arising from Contracts.

The question is very complex, while in my possession there was extremely little time; therefore the version I am proposing unquestionably requires further elaboration.

I consider the following points to be fundamental:

1) — the application to contracts of the principle: "all that is not forbidden by law is permitted and enjoys judicial protection."

2) — A Contract may be recognized as invalid only by a Court and only in cases strictly and previously established by law...

27/II [1922]

Lenin

Not only by a court, but also by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

Vladimir Ilyich! I am sending you Postolovsky's version of the first three points of the Civil Code. This version requires the addition of the following point to article 2: "d) directed toward obvious detriment to the state."

With such an addition, Postolovsky's version is considerably more successful than the version proposed by the People's Commissariat of Justice and the Moscow Soviet of the National Economy. Comrade Kursky is familiar with it and it will be taken into account by the commission appointed by the Central Committee.

24/II 22

With communist greetings, N. Gorbunov

To N. P. Gorbunov and A. D. Tyurup

I think this is correct¹.

28/II [1922]

Lenin

P.S. Postolovsky considers that the entire project adopted by the Council of People's Commissars is too unwieldy and detailed¹. In his opinion, it would be better to limit oneself to a declarative decree for Europe, leaving the elaboration of details to oneself.

N. G.

¹ This refers to the "Regulations on Obligations Arising from Contracts," adopted at a session of the Council of People's Commissars on February 21, 1922.

² On March 2, 1922, the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) adopted a resolution "to limit ourselves for now to a declarative statement, while to elaborate the code in greater detail." The Civil Code of the RSFSR was adopted at the IV session of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the ninth convocation in October 1922.

---

**NOTE TO A. S. ENUKIDZE**

1—III—1922

Comrade Enukidze!

I request that you inform me whether my request has been fulfilled concerning the provision for the disposal of Gosplan two good apartments, about which I wrote you on February 13¹.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Printed from a typescript copy

¹ In response to the published note, A. S. Enukidze wrote to V. I. Lenin on the same day as follows:

"Comrade Strumilin will definitely receive a good apartment no later than three days. There was no possibility until now to arrange for him. Ramzin, as comrade Strumilin reported, has departed for abroad."

See also V. I. Lenin, *Complete Collected Works*, vol. 54, pp. 161—162.

* The original document with the signature of V. I. Lenin is not available at the Central Party Archive—Institute of Marxism-Leninism of the Central Committee CPSU.

---

**NOTE TO N. P. GORBUNOV**

Comrade Gorbunov!

That is enough. I did not want "access to telephones," but merely the fulfillment of my order (in case; there has been no precedent yet) to summon the commandant by telephone.

Speak with Peterson yourself¹.

2/III [1922]

Lenin

¹ The note was written on a report from the Kremlin Commandant R. A. Peterson concerning the issuance of a reprimand to a sentry for non-compliance with the rules and instructions of guard duty, as well as V. I. Lenin's directive concerning access to telephones for persons coming to him.

See also the present collection, pp. 355—356 and V. I. Lenin, *Complete Collected Works*, vol. 54, pp. 35—36.

² R. A. Peterson asked V. I. Lenin to receive him in order to clarify the wording of the order concerning access to telephones.

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**LETTER TO V. M. MOLOTOV FOR MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b)**

[1922, March, not earlier than 2, not later than 9]

Comrade Molotov: I request you to have this read by the members of the Politburo and return it to me.

A small difference: Kolchak and Denikin did not hesitate to "teach" even members of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, hanging them. And they taught well, seriously. They taught well. But in our state trusts? Who teaches? What? How? Where is the serious verification?

Yes. Yes.

A small, small difference!

Lenin

¹ The published document was written beneath the text of a letter from G. Ya. Sokolnikov dated March 2, 1922. Referring to the fact that during the civil war communists in revolutionary military councils learned to wage war from military specialists, Sokolnikov wrote: "Would it not be possible, by means of joint-stock companies, to give communists the opportunity to take a course in commerce and other business work from commercial specialists?" (here and below underlined by V. I. Lenin). "Our people will be swindled, but thereby we will be able to observe, learn, and perhaps later make up our losses. Military communism—Revolutionary Military Council; the new economic policy—the Board of a joint-stock company. Is this correct?"

To the word "business" V. I. Lenin wrote on the margins: "hm, hm?", underlining his remark with one line. Above the word "will be able" he placed three question marks. The words "Is this correct?" Lenin marked with a symbol ¤ and with the same symbol — the beginning of the second paragraph of his letter. On Sokolnikov's letter there are also the signatures of members of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) who read it.

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**LETTER TO THE KREMLIN COMMANDANT R. A. PETERSON**
**AND INSTRUCTION TO N. P. GORBUNOV**

4. III. 1922

To the Kremlin Commandant, Comrade Peterson

I hereby issue you a reprimand for unsatisfactory fulfillment of my directive.

Today around 10 3/4 in the evening I was passing by the post where I spoke with you recently (the post inside the building—the post which is located next to the post at the outer gates). After I had walked past this post a second or third time while taking a walk, the sentry from inside the building shouted at me: "Don't come here." Evidently, my directive regarding precise and clear explanation to sentries of their duties has been fulfilled by you unsatisfactorily (inasmuch as to this internal post, the rule about not approaching within 10 paces does not apply; moreover, the sentry did not state precisely and clearly what exactly he was declaring forbidden).

Next time I will be forced to subject you to a stricter penalty.

Report this directive to your immediate superior, who must report in writing to the Administrative Division of the Council of People's Commissars, N. P. Gorbunov, concerning the measures he has taken.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

4. III. 1922

Comrade Gorbunov!

Send this, having registered it, and inform me of its execution¹.

Assistant to the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

¹ In the Book of Records of V. I. Lenin's Instructions there is the following notation: "Executed March 7."

See also the present collection, pp. 353.

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**SAFE-CONDUCT FOR P. V. TANEEV**

March 8, 1922

Safe-Conduct

The safe-conduct issued to citizen Vladimir Ivanovich Taneev on the basis of the resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of 25/III 1919, remains in force in the part concerning his family, even after his death.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the typescript text signed by V. I. Lenin

¹ Professor P. V. Taneev, in his letter to V. I. Lenin of February 23, 1922, requested that the safe-conduct issued to the Council of People's Commissars on March 25, 1919 to his father, V. I. Taneev, be extended to the Taneev family.

See also V. I. Lenin, *Complete Collected Works*, vol. 50, p. 383.

---

**NOTE TO G. I. SAFAROV**

[March 13, 1922]

To Safarov

I request you send me a collection of all resolutions adopted at the last expanded session of the Executive Committee of the Comintern.

Preferably in printed form¹.

Lenin

Printed from the secretary's notes

¹ This refers to the First Expanded Plenum of the Executive Committee of the Communist International, held February 21—March 4, 1922. The Plenum adopted the following resolutions: on struggle against war and military danger (theses), on the tactics of the united front, on the participation of the Communist International in the proposed conference of all workers' organizations of the world, on the tasks of communists in trade unions, on the new economic policy of Soviet Russia (theses), on struggle against the impoverishment of working youth, on the Russian question, on the French question, on the English question (see *The Communist International in Documents. Decisions, Theses and Appeals of Congresses of the Comintern and Plenums of IKKI. 1919—1932*, Moscow, 1933, pp. 260—280).

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**NOTE TO L. A. FOTIYEVA**

Fotiyeva

Read this.

Direct to the Central Control Commission or (and?) to the Organization Bureau.

Prepare a draft reply and give it to me for signature (with a copy of the original)¹.

20/III [1922]

Lenin

¹ The document was written concerning a letter from M. N. Popova, who on behalf of a group of communists of the Urals informed V. I. Lenin of egregious abuses permitted by local workers in the collection of the agricultural tax in Shadrinsky District of Yekaterinburg Province (now Shadrinsky District is part of Kurgan Province). On V. I. Lenin's order, Popova's letter was sent to the Central Control Commission for investigation. Workers in Shadrinsky District who permitted violence were brought to trial before a revolutionary tribunal. In addition, this matter was specially investigated by the provincial control commission.

M. N. Popova — member of the RCP(b), at this time worked in the Yekaterinburg Provincial Administration of Political Enlightenment.

---

**LETTER TO V. L. GERSON**

[April 4, 1922]

Comrade Gerson!

I was informed that the Moscow Committee is closing the sanatorium in Gorki. I am decidedly opposed to this.

First, the sanatorium there ensures the maintenance of a good "apparatus" there (for a dining hall, for food service, etc.), and this is important so that there may always be the opportunity for those who need rest to go there for rest.

Second, I am counting on living there; Dzerzhinsky in conversation with me agreed to this. With him I also spoke to the effect that it would be useful to always keep (taking turns) one of the party workers of the Administration of the Political Police (GPU) there (for verification and supervision in general).

Therefore I am in favor of:

1) keeping the sanatorium,
2) running it, perhaps, better in the name of the Moscow Committee + GPU and by agreement, selecting people to send to it¹.

I request you to speak with Unshlikht and Dzerzhinsky and answer me.

With communist greetings, Lenin

¹ V. L. Gerson — secretary to the chairman of the GPU, F. E. Dzerzhinsky, and assistant manager of the GPU.

² On April 5, 1922, between the Moscow Committee of the RCP(b) and the GPU a contract was concluded extending the functioning of the Gorki sanatorium until May 1, 1923.

---

**LETTER TO L. D. TROTSKY**

4/IV—1922

Comrade Trotsky!

Yesterday I happened to convince myself—by chance, but from a source close to the matter and deserving of absolute trust—that the cadets in the Kremlin are, first, starving, and second, all are dissatisfied to an extreme degree with the heavy guard duties, which prevent them from studying.

Should we not, therefore, in this connection:

1) submit to the Council of People's Commissars a petition for an additional appropriation only and entirely for the improvement of nutrition of Kremlin cadets to complete satiation.

2) Discuss whether it would not be possible to reduce the guard duties of Kremlin cadets by introducing electrical signaling in the Kremlin? (an engineer, Theremin², showed us his experiments in the Kremlin: such signaling that the bell rings at mere approach to the wire, without touching it).

3) Discuss whether, if electrical signaling is not capable of reducing the number and duration of guard duties, we might apply other mechanical means, such as closed booths from which everything can be seen—but in which the sentry cannot be seen—or some other system of pass verification, etc.

Your Lenin

Printed from a typescript copy

¹ The published document was written in connection with the fact that, as A. D. Tyurup recalled later, in response to V. I. Lenin's question about his elder children, one of whom studied at command courses in the Kremlin, he answered: "Complains—fed poorly" (Central Party Archive—Institute of Marxism-Leninism of the Central Committee CPSU).

See also the following document.

² L. S. Theremin — at this time director of the laboratory of electrical oscillations at the Physics-Technical Roentgenological Institute in Petrograd.

---

**LETTER TO A. D. TYURUP***

6. IV. 1922

Comrade Tyurup!

I wrote to Trotsky that, by most reliable information (I did not name the source), the cadets are starving.

Here is his reply¹.

Probably they are not telling him the truth. We must still try to clarify the truth.

Your Lenin

* On the envelope of this letter V. I. Lenin wrote: "comrade A. D. Tyurup (from Lenin)."

¹ V. I. Lenin has in mind the reply of L. D. Trotsky to his letter of April 4 (see the previous document). Trotsky wrote that he "frequently" asks the cadets about their food, and they answer that they "are not starving"; Trotsky confirmed the severity of guard duty and reported on measures taken to ease it, noting that he considers mechanization difficult to implement. He also reported that the Small Council of People's Commissars had appropriated "one and a half million pre-war rubles" for the expansion of quarters for cadets, but the People's Commissar of Finance, G. Ya. Sokolnikov, intended to appeal this decision to the Politburo.

In Trotsky's letter Lenin made a number of notations: the words "are not starving" he underlined with two lines, and additionally enclosed "are not" in a semicircle and placed three question marks above; in the phrase "I frequently ask them" next to "I" he wrote: "Trotsky will not be told the whole truth" and enclosed these words in one line; the words "one and a half million pre-war rubles" Lenin underlined and wrote on the margins: "? too much!", the latter remark he enclosed in two lines.

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**LETTER TO G. K. ORDZHONIKIDZE***

[April 9, 1922]

Comrade Sergo!

Regarding the request of Kamо and in connection with it, I must further add that I need to settle separately. The way of life of a sick person. Conversation even with three I almost cannot bear (once Kamenev and Stalin were at my place: deterioration!). Either separate little houses, or only such a large house in which absolute separation is possible. This must be taken into account. Visits should not occur.

I read the "Guide to the Caucasus," that is, I leafed through it lightly. I see that I need neither maps nor detailed descriptions in books (about which I asked you). For the entire matter consists of inspection of suitable houses (most of them, of course, are destroyed and filthy), but this neither map nor book will provide. Send a sensible, businesslike man for inspection** and send me a selection: houses of such-and-such; so many versts from the railway; so many versts by highway; so many versts without highway; altitude; rainfall. If repair is needed, we will arrange by telegraph ("repair of such-and-such weeks").

Do not forget the Black Sea coast and the foothills of the northern Caucasus.

It is not at all pleasant to be beyond Tiflis: it is far!¹

Your Lenin

* On the envelope of this letter V. I. Lenin wrote: "personally comrade Ordzhonikidze (from Lenin)."

** If it is not accomplished by May 7, it is better to postpone for a week, notifying of the delay by cipher telegram (note by V. I. Lenin).

¹ The published letter was written in connection with the fact that in the spring of 1922, doctors recommended to V. I. Lenin prolonged rest and mountain air. Lenin intended to go to the Caucasus and was conducting correspondence on this question with I. S. Unshlikht and G. K. Ordzhonikidze, who worked at that time in the Caucasus.

See also the present collection, pp. 361—362 and V. I. Lenin, *Complete Collected Works*, vol. 54, pp. 229—231, 241—242.

The trip did not take place.

Kamо (S. A. Ter-Petrosyan) — party member from 1901; professional revolutionary. In 1921 Kamо studied in Moscow and worked in the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade.

---

**LETTER TO V. A. AVANЕСOV**

13. IV. 1922

Comrade Avanесov!

It turns out that you have not yet left. They say—from Dr. Ramonov's words—that you are thinking of the Crimea.

I implore you not to do this. I know the Crimea from my brother's account¹ (and my sister was there in the summer). Not treatment, but torment. A healthy person will become ill. This is the height of folly.

Stop being nervous and wavering. The Germans and only they will heal correctly, reliably, and faster than all others. I hope you will answer me—and already with final precision².

Greetings! Lenin

¹ V. A. Avanесov — Deputy Commissar of the RCP.

See also V. I. Lenin, *Complete Collected Works*, vol. 54, p. 219.

² This refers to D. I. Ulyanov; in 1920—1921 he was a member of the Crimean Revolutionary Committee and the party committee, then plenipotentiary of the People's Commissariat of Health for Crimean resorts. From the end of 1921 he worked in Moscow in the People's Commissariat of Health.

³ In response to the published letter, V. A. Avanесov wrote to V. I. Lenin: "I am beginning the transfer of my affairs. I will probably leave in a week." On this note there is the following instruction: "Follow up on execution. Lenin" (Central Party Archive—Institute of Marxism-Leninism of the Central Committee CPSU).

On this question in the Book of Records of Outgoing Documents of V. I. Lenin in the column "Execution" is noted: "Exhausted."

---

**NOTE TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF POST AND TELEGRAPH TO V. S. DOVGALEVSKY**

21—IV—22

To the People's Commissar of Post and Telegraph, Comrade Dovgalevsky

I propose you order that all correspondence (registered letters, summonses, etc.) requiring my personal signature be given out under the signature of the Secretary of the Council of People's Commissars, L. Fotiyeva.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from a typescript copy

---

**NOTES TO I. S. UNSHLIKHT**
**AND DRAFT TELEGRAM**

[April 23, 1922]

Comrade Unshlikht! I do not count on the Caucasus, already a postponement until the end of May. I would not want to lose a month. Send this, please, and write me a reply.¹

With communist greetings, Lenin

TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE POLITICAL POLICE
Comrade Unshlikht

I request you send, over the signature of Dzerzhinsky, as chairman of the GPU, and Stalin, as secretary of the Central Committee, by cipher telegram, the appropriate comrades to the Urals and, perhaps, to several other provinces where success of the request can be assumed.

23/IV

With communist greetings, Lenin

Try to find out whether in your district there is a good accommodation for about 20 people, suitable for the treatment of several families of comrades; absolute quiet, comfort, clean air, as high as possible above sea level, and, without fail, a dry place are required. Make no public announcement. Telegraph, if there is in mind or can be quickly inspected a suitable place, and we will communicate further on the matter specially.

Printed from the typescript of I. S. Unshlikht's memoirs

¹ See also the present collection, pp. 359—360.

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**NOTE TO V. A. SMOLYANINOV**

Comrade Smolyaninov! I request you direct this (noting it for verification of execution) to comrade Kursky and request of him on my behalf that he seek a stricter investigation (having spoken with Semashko) and stricter punishment¹.

4/V [1922]

Lenin

¹ Written on the report of the head of the Therapeutic-Prosthetic Institute, Dr. N. M. Priorov, to the Moscow Health Department concerning hooliganism by a small group of invalids being treated at the Institute, who beat and insulted a number of doctors and staff.

The investigation was entrusted to an investigator on important cases with the People's Commissariat of Justice. His conclusion, approved by the Commissar of Justice D. I. Kursky and member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Justice, head of the investigative division P. A. Krasikov, was transmitted to court. The case was heard at a special session of the Moscow People's Court.

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**LETTER TO V. A. SMOLYANINOV**

Comrade Smolyaninov!

This question is entirely within the purview of the Organization Bureau of the Central Committee, not the Politburo, for there is as yet no politics.

The question: who is at fault? Divilkovsky in incorrect information; or the Bureau of the Moscow Committee in covering up communist bureaucrats and their abuses, if not in "covering up," then in routine.

Submit to the Organization Bureau with a request to verify (perhaps through a special impartial commission?) and decide¹.

5/V [1922]

Lenin

¹ The published letter is a reply to documents sent to V. I. Lenin by V. A. Smolyaninov: materials on the audit of the Central Housing Department of the Moscow Soviet, the protest of assistant manager of the Council of People's Commissars A. A. Divilkovsky, and the protocol of a session of the Moscow Committee of the RCP(b) and the presidium of the Moscow Soviet from April 14, 1922 on this question.

See also V. I. Lenin, *Complete Collected Works*, vol. 45, p. 53.

² A. A. Divilkovsky, assistant manager of the Council of People's Commissars, collected materials and followed the course of the verification of the activity of the Central Housing Department of the Moscow Soviet (TsZhO). He disagreed with the conclusions of the commission appointed by the Moscow Committee of the party on this question, as well as with the decision of the Bureau of the Moscow Committee and the presidium of the Moscow Soviet of April 14, 1922, confirming these conclusions.

The Organization Bureau of the Central Committee of the RCP(b), to which V. A. Smolyaninov forwarded all documents, resolved on May 12 to transmit the materials on the audit of the Central Housing Department to the Central Control Commission for consideration. On May 30, 1922, the Central Control Commission recognized Divilkovsky's protest as groundless.

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**NOTE TO L. B. KAMENEV**
**FOR MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b)**

In my view, send this around now to the members of the Politburo. If no one objects, send it. Do not forget to ask Unshlikht. If Unshlikht does not object, then I do not object¹.

10/V [1922]

Lenin

¹ This refers to permission for S. G. Kropotkina, widow of P. A. Kropotkin, to depart to Berlin for the publication of his works. On the note there are signatures of members of the Politburo supporting V. I. Lenin's proposal and a notation by I. V. Stalin: "I do not know Kropotkin's widow, and therefore abstain."

Permission was granted.

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**LETTER TO PARTY COMRADES IN SOVIET WORK IN THE URALS**

10. V. 1922

To Party Comrades in Soviet Work in the Urals

I recommend to you the bearer, comrade Belenkiy, personally known to me for a long time, from the time of emigration in Paris¹.

I request you to give him full confidence and every possible support and assistance.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

* The reference is, apparently, to G. Ya. Belenkiy.

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**TELEGRAM TO N. N. KRESTINSKY**

Berlin,

To Krestinsky

Copy to the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, Karakhan

I request you to take energetic measures for the speediest obtainment of a visa from the German government for the entry into Germany of the manager of affairs of the Council of People's Commissars Gorbunov for the purpose of undergoing a course of treatment¹.

Moscow, Kremlin,
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

May 11, 1922

Printed from the typescript signed by V. I. Lenin

¹ The visa for N. P. Gorbunov was obtained shortly thereafter.

---

**NOTE TO N. A. SEMASHKO**

Comrade Semashko!

I request you render assistance to the departure abroad. Money is not required.

I knew this Vosky in Berlin in 1912—13, as a relative of the late Suren Spandarian¹.

If needed, submit this to the Organization Bureau on my behalf.

Lenin

18/V [1922]

P.S. Ring the Chief Administration of Political Enlightenment 63—94 (or upper switchboard) and call Kolesnikova². Pass on to her everything that is needed for Vosky*.

* The postscript is written in the hand of N. K. Krupskaya.

¹ This refers to Vosky Atanеsovna Ter-Ioannesyan, wife of the well-known Armenian writer Muratsanyan.

S. S. Spandarian — professional revolutionary, member of the RSDLP from 1902.

² N. N. Kolesnikova (Drobinsksya) — at this time worked in the Chief Administration of Political Enlightenment.

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**RECOMMENDATION TO A. YU. HAMMER**
**AND INSTRUCTIONS TO SECRETARIES**

The bearer, Doctor Armand Yulyevich Hammer, is the secretary of the United American Company—the first joint-stock company to receive from us a concession, namely for asbestos mines in the Urals. This firm also has a contract for supplying Russia with grain in exchange for Russian goods, and it also has the exclusive agency for Russia for automobiles, trucks and tractors of the American Ford factory and for agricultural implements of the large American firm Moline Plow Company.

The United American Company is distinguished by its sympathetic attitude toward Soviet Russia from the usual capitalist companies, and we are very interested in its having full opportunity to successfully accomplish its tasks.

I therefore earnestly request all representatives of the Foreign Trade Organization, the railway administration, etc., representatives of the Soviet government in Russia and abroad to render the representatives of this Company not only proper attention and courteous treatment, but in all ways to render them such assistance as is possible, eliminating any red tape, etc.

Retype the entire text on my letterhead without any omissions²); also in English translation.

24/V [1922]

Lenin

Lydia Aleksandrovna!

Retype carefully, checking twice. Both mandates (the second according to this³).

Also in English.

Make 2—3 more copies.

27/V 1922

¹ Instructions to secretaries are written in the margins of the draft recommendation to A. Yu. Hammer (the draft was prepared by B. I. Reinstein, a worker of the Comintern and Profintern).

Armand Hammer — secretary of the American "United Company of Medicaments and Chemical Preparations," which received in 1921 from the Soviet government a concession to develop asbestos mines in the Urals.

A similar recommendation was given to the representative of this Company, the chief administrator of the American concession "Alamerica" in Soviet Russia B. O. Michel.

On May 24, 1922, V. I. Lenin, in a letter on behalf of I. V. Stalin to the members of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b), wrote that he was giving recommendations to A. Yu. Hammer and B. O. Michel and asked to communicate whether they had any objections (see V. I. Lenin, *Complete Collected Works*, vol. 54, p. 272).

On the question of Hammer's concession see also V. I. Lenin, *Complete Collected Works*, vol. 53, pp. 267, 324; vol. 54, pp. 61, 79, 252, 253—254, 270—271.

² This refers to the notation by A. D. Tyurup on the exclusion of the second paragraph.

³ The reference is to the recommendation to B. O. Michel.

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**NOTE TO V. A. SMOLYANINOV***

9/IX [1922]

Comrade Smolyaninov! Forward, please, a bit clearer the enclosed letter¹.

Send me, please, an extract from the protocol of the editorial board of the State Technical Publishing House (21. XII. 1918). I will return it to you².

With communist greetings, Lenin

¹ This refers to a letter by V. I. Lenin to N. A. Zhideleev, a staff member of the Council of People's Commissars, who was being treated at this time in the Crimea, with a request to look after I. A. Armand and L. A. Fotiyeva who were resting there (see *Memoirs of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin*, Moscow, 1969, vol. 4, p. 338).

² V. I. Lenin refers to the decision of the Editorial Board of the State Technical Publishing House of December 21, 1918, on the question of publishing the work of engineer I. M. Bezprozvanny "Modern Organization of American Factories." The Editorial Board decided to publish it in an edition of 10 thousand copies as a popular pamphlet for workers (appeared in 1919).

V. A. Smolyaninov sent V. I. Lenin the extract from the protocol the same day.

See also V. I. Lenin, *Complete Collected Works*, vol. 54, p. 279.

* On the envelope of this note V. I. Lenin wrote: "To Comrade Smolyaninov (from Lenin)."

---

**NOTE TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY**

17/IX [1922]

To Comrade Dzerzhinsky

Comrade Dzerzhinsky!

Be so kind as to write me how the matter stands with Lomonosov? When? what assignment? Is it already decided (formally?) or not yet?

Your Lenin

¹ This refers to the forthcoming work of Yu. V. Lomonosov in connection with the proposed liquidation of the Russian Railway Mission abroad, which he headed.

F. E. Dzerzhinsky answered V. I. Lenin that he had asked the Central Committee of the RCP(b) to include Lomonosov in the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Railways and received preliminary agreement. Dzerzhinsky thought that it would be most expedient to entrust Lomonosov with heading the Supreme Technical Committee, of which he had been chairman earlier, and the inspectorate, as "these posts would give him the opportunity for maximum independence and complete familiarity with the state of transport and the People's Commissariat of Railways."

The decision on Lomonosov's appointment, reported Dzerzhinsky, would be made after his return from abroad (Central Party Archive—Institute of Marxism-Leninism of the Central Committee CPSU).

See also V. I. Lenin, *Complete Collected Works*, vol. 54, pp. 284 and 306.

---

**NOTE TO N. P. GORBUNOV**

Comrade Gorbunov! Please verify whether the telegram to Berlin concerning the summoning of Lomonosov was sent. Demand today the dispatches of urgent reply, write from my behalf that it is their duty to reply within a deadline¹.

20/IX [1922]

Lenin

¹ See the following document.

---

**NOTE TO P. P. GORBUNOV**

[1922, later than September 20]

Curse out Stomonуakov, for once they summon, he is obliged to summon without questions, without reservations, without excuses; for delay the guilt will be on him.

¹ The published note was prompted by the report of the manager of affairs of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs P. P. Gorbunov that in response to the telegram of September 18, 1922 on taking measures for the immediate departure to Moscow of Yu. V. Lomonosov, the trade representative of the RSFSR in Germany B. S. Stomoнyakov asked for clarification of the reasons for Lomonosov's summons.

---

**NOTE TO M. I. GLÄSSER***

[September 26, 1922]

Comrade Glässer!

I request you duplicate and distribute confidentially to all members of the Politburo¹.

With communist greetings, Lenin

¹ This refers, apparently, to the distribution to members of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) of a letter by V. I. Lenin on the formation of the USSR, written by him on September 26, 1922 (see V. I. Lenin, *Complete Collected Works*, vol. 45, pp. 211—213).

---

**NOTE TO L. B. KAMENEV**

9. X. 1922

Comrade Kamenev!

I request you to receive the bearer, comrade Kaktyuny¹. It is necessary for you to have a discussion with him (editor of the newspaper of the Council of Labor and Defense, the organ of the Council of Labor and Defense, "Economic Life"), and then you and I will talk.

I will also see him.

Your Lenin

¹ A. M. Kaktyuny — deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Economic Life."

"Economic Life" — a daily newspaper; published from November 1918 to November 1937 in Moscow; at first was the organ of the Supreme Soviet of the National Economy and other economic commissariats; from July 1921 — the organ of the Council of Labor and Defense, the State Planning Commission, the State Bank, the People's Commissariat of Finance and the Central Committee of the Union of Banking Workers.

* On the envelope of this note V. I. Lenin wrote: "to Comrade Glässer (from Lenin)."

---

**NOTATIONS ON A LETTER FROM G. YA. SOKOLNIKOV**
**AND NOTE TO L. B. KAMENEV**

[1922, October, not earlier than 25]

Most Esteemed Vladimir Ilyich!

I wish to draw your attention to a measure we have adopted for insurance of paper money against depreciation — we have agreed with the State Bank that it will begin to receive in broad measure deposits calculated in gold (see today's State Bank announcement¹).

By this measure, we may perhaps succeed in weakening the boycott of paper currency begun by the trusts, insuring themselves in goods, which leads to an aggravation of the financial crisis.

The official gold rate has been raised almost to the level of the market rate (official—800, market—860). I think we will succeed in stabilizing the ruble-to-gold rate for a considerable time...

The raising of railway and postal-telegraph tariffs from November 1 (which also all remain EXCESSIVELY behind*), apparently will succeed in being carried out. I write "apparently," since it was possible to win this in the form of a "rapid offensive" and I fear that there will be further attempts to annul the decisions on raising tariffs.

I request your support of these measures — they will make it possible to hold emissions in November at the level of October.

With comrade greetings, G. Sokolnikov

To Comrade Kamenev

a) by free rate?
β) 860—800? Will not this "small" difference ruin the whole matter? Is it small?
γ) why is it not possible to raise tariffs every two weeks?

Lenin

Comrade Kamenev!

It would be necessary to speak 5—10 minutes and soon.

Your Lenin

¹ See *Pravda* No. 241, October 25, 1922, p. 6.

* commodity and gold index around 8 million, and the coefficient of tariffs of the People's Commissariat of Post and Telegraph is 1.5 million and in some parts even below (note by the author, Editor).

---

**POSTSCRIPT TO A LETTER FROM N. K. KRUPSKAYA**

[November 4, 1922]

To the Commission on the Dining Hall of the Council of People's Commissars

Esteemed Comrades,

Among the members of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Education there is comrade Bem, a communist, a very good comrade. Before arriving in Moscow he suffered a serious illness (blood poisoning). On arrival in Moscow he submitted an application to the Council of People's Commissars dining hall, but has received no answer to date. He works enormously, is nourished completely unrealistically, and is ill from exhaustion.

The man is not skilled at fighting for the necessities of life for himself, but this is not a reason to let him exhaust himself.

I would very much request that he be given the opportunity to eat in the dining hall of the Council of People's Commissars on equal terms with other members of the collegium.

He should be notified at the address: Sretenskiy Boulevard, 6. People's Commissariat of Education. Chief Administration of Social Education. Member of the Collegium of the People's Commissariat of Education O. L. Bem.

With comrade greetings, N. Ulyanova

I support this request.

With communist greetings, Lenin

---

**NAME INDEX**

A., Alexander — see Shlyapnikov, A. G.

Abrosimov, V. M. — 19.

Avanесov, V. A. — 206, 232, 360.

Agapov, S. K. — 96.

Adoratsky, V. V. — 15, 142, 334.

Azanchevskaya, A. V. — 238.

Azanchevskaya, E. N. — 238.

Azanchevskaya, S. V. — 122.

Eisenstein, S. M. — 301.

Akselrod, T. L. — 309.

Alekseyev, I. P. — 136.

Aleksinskiy, G. A. — 13.

Alferov, K. A. — 256.

Alberí, M. — see Eberleín, G.

Alskiy, A. O. — 321.

Anwelt, Ya. Ya. — 69—70.

Antonov, M. T. — 170.

Antonov-Saratovskiy, V. P. — 95.

Antonova, A. — 170.

Aralov, S. I. — 135.

Armand, I. F. — 21, 35, 38, 39, 52—53, 54, 56—57, 58, 233.

Arkhangelskiy — 118.

Badayev, A. E. — 272.

Bauer, O. — 218, 223, 224.

Belenkiy, A. Ya. — 209.

Belenkiy, G. Ya. — 35, 363—364.

Belov, A. A. — 328.

Berzin, Ya. A. — 62.

Blagonravov, G. I. — 61.

Bliznichenko, A. E. — 260.

Bogdanov, P. A. — 338.

Bogrova, V. L. — 30, 69, 75, 76, 84.

Bonar Low, E. — 249—250.

Bonch-Bruyevich, V. D. — 62, 64, 80, 108, 206.

Borisov, I. N. — 265, 270.

Borkhardt, Yu. — 54—55.

Botin, S. I. — 206, 207, 320, 327.

Bosh, E. B. — 36, 39.

Boyarskiy, A. I. — 311.

Bryant, L. — 254—255.

Braun, M. I. (Bronskiy, M. G.) — 226, 227.

Brizon, P. — 41—42.

Brichkina, S. B. — 263.

Bronstein, P. A. — 26.

Bryukhanov, P. P. — 102, 103, 117, 118, 119, 123, 124, 126, 131, 132, 195, 216, 231, 240, 241, 298, 315.

Bubnov, A. S. — 138, 260.

Bullitt, W. C. — 148, 255.

Burakova, M. N. — 313.

Bukharin, N. I. — 36, 39, 212, 234, 258, 263.

V. A. — see Abrosimov, V. M.

Vandervelde, E. — 26, 41—42, 50.

Vanderlip, V. B. — 243.

Barskiy, A. S. — 317.

Vakhrameev, I. I. — 90.

Vatsetis, I. I. — 101, 108.

Weiss (Menders), F. — 40.

Weisbrоd, B. S. — 105.

Vigilev, B. D. — 31.

Wilson, W. — 148, 255.

Vinokurov, A. N. — 128, 246—247.

Vladimirov, M. K. — 156.

Vladimirskiy, M. F. — 170, 175, 215, 252.

NAME INDEX

Volin,
V. M. - 308.
Volodicheva, M. A. — 197.
Wolfheim, F. — 212.
Borovskii, V. V. — 215, 278.
Vorontsov, G. B. — 107.
Voroshilov, K. E. — 106, 136, 138, 139.
Voski — see Ter-Ioannesyan, V. A.
Galkin, A. V. - 191.
Ganetskii, Ya. S. — 17, 23, 53.
Gapeev, A. A. — 336.
Hardy, D. K. - 21.
Gasselblat, V. A. — 336.
Gaya, G. D. - 125.
Henderson, A. - 213, 248, 250.
Gerson, V. L. — 357.
Gil', S. K. - 169.
Gilbo, A. — 53, 86.
Ginzburg, B. A. — 27.
Gittis, V. M. — 160.
Glässer, M. I. - 232, 244, 256, 265, 326, 350, 368.
Goloshchekin, F. I. — 136, 138, 139.
Goldenberg, I. P. — 312.
Goltzman, A. Z. — 94.
Gorbunov, N. P. — 74, 86, 87, 96, 97, 269, 278, 279, 281,
296, 320, 326, 327, 330, 339, 340,
347, 350, 351-352, 353, 354-355, 364, 367.
Gorbunov, P. P. — 269, 323, 367.
Gordon (Walcher), G. — 96.
Gorskii, A. V. (A. E. Dubois) — 27.
Gorky, A. M. — 264.
Grzhebin, Z. I. — 265.
Grigory — see Zinoviev, G. E.
Grimm, R. — 33, 35, 50—51, 54—55.
Grisha — see Belenky, G. Ya.
Groman, V. G. — 253.
Gukovskii, I. E, — 73, 77, 193, 208.
Gusev, S. I. - 161.
Dan, F. I. — 19.
Dauge, M. P. — 109.
Dauge, P. G. - 109, 310.
Denikin, A. I. — 353.
Dzerzhinsky, F. E. — 65, 75, 93, 114, 120, 142—144, 157,
161, 167, 168, 169, 191, 199, 242,
284, 286, 293, 357, 361, 367.
Divilkovskii, A. A. — 362.
Dobrovolskii, V. I. — 128.
Dovgalevskii V. S. — 327, 361.
Domenov, V. I. — 336.
Dudkin — 118.
Dumdze, V. E. — 343.
Dutov, A. I. — 66.
Dukhovshchintsey — 124.
Dybenko, P. E. — 136.
Evgeniya Bogdanovna — see Bosh, E. B.
Ezhov — 202.
Emelyanov, N. A. — 149.
Emelyanova, N. K. — 149.
Emshanov, A. I. — 286—287.
Enukidze, A. S. — 107, 207, 239, 349-350, 352.
Ermolaev, K. M. — 26.
Zagorskii (Lubotskii), V. M. - 84.
Zaks-Gladnev, S. M. — 264.
Zemit, F. A. — 77.
Zinoviev, G. E. — 32, 33, 34, 39-40, 56, 81, 92, 113, 114, 120,
125, 128, 155, 199, 203, 215, 217,
218, 305, 315, 319, 343—344, 350.
Zifeldt (Simumyash), A. R. — 235.
Zorin, S. — 105.
Ivanov (Caucasian), V. G. — 95.
Ignatyev, A. M. — 318.
Ilyin, F. F. — 247.
Inesa — see Armand, I. F.
Ioffe, A. A. — 84, 90, 95, 192, 258, 346.
Ispolatov, N. N. — 101.
Isuv, I. A. — 26.
Kadyan, A. Yu. — 314.
Kazantsev, A. I. — 61.
Kaisarov, V. D. — 309.
Kaktyň, A. M. — 368.
Kaledin, A. M. — 66.
Kalinin, M. I. — 145.
Kamenev, L. B. — 92, 104, 112, 163, 272, 280, 315, 331,
337, 338, 346, 350, 359, 363, 368, 369.
Kamenev, S. S. — 152.
Kamenir, M. — 201.
Kaminskii, G. N. — 96.
Kamo — see Ter-Petrosyan, S. A.
Karahan, L. M. - 153, 200, 323, 364.
Karl — 54—55.
Kartashov, N. — 126.
Katin — 104.
Kautsky, K. — 32, 230.
Kayurov, V. N. — 152.
Kviring, E. I. — 336.
Kvirkelia, V. M. — 89.
Kennes, D. M. - 223, 225, 226, 255.
Könen, V. — 305.
Kerensky, A. F. — 212.
Kerzhentsev, P. M. — 259.
Curzon, D. N. — 228.
Kinkel — 81.
Kiselev, I. — 144.
Kislyakov, E. N. — 98.
Klinger, G. K. - 132, 203.
Knif, I. — 39.
Kobetskii, M. V. — 16, 125, 231, 326.
Kovylkin, S. T. — 270.
Kozlovskii, B. G. — 158, 172.
Kozlovskii, M. Yu. — 182, 217-218.
Kolbi, B. — 255.
Kolegatev, A. L. — 156.
Kolesnikova, N. N. - 364.
Kollontai, A. M. — 34, 39.
Kolchak, A. V. — 353.
Kon, F. Ya. — 200.
Korzinov, G. I. — 260.
Korzlinskii, N. V. — 172.
Kotovich-Sammer, V. I. — 178.
Kotomkin, M. V. — 174.
Krasin, L. B. — 134, 144, 156, 176, 178-179, 195, 196, 253, 258,
270, 273, 288, 295, 315, 318, 319,
329, 331—332.
Krasnov, P. N. - 83, 136.
Kreis — 64.
Krestinskii, N. N. — 100, 143, 147, 156, 162, 163, 182, 189,
195, 197, 215, 238, 262, 269, 280,
284, 318, 345, 364.
Krzhizhanovskaya, Z. P. — 220, 235—236.
Krzhizhanovskii, G. M. — 284, 320, 327, 329, 335—336.
Crispin, A. — 230.
Kritsman, L. N. — 303.
Krupskaya, N. K. — 36, 94, 149, 349, 370.
Krylenko, N. V. — 61—62.
Ksandrov, V. N. — 121.
Ksenofontov, I. K. — 169, 207, 210.
Kudinskii, S. D. — 68, 69.
Kuzma — see Lyakhotskii, K.
Kuzmin, N. N. — 194.
Kuibyshev, V. V. — 283.
Kuklin, A. S. — 256.
Kun, B. - 133.
Kuraev, V. V. — 277.
Kurskii, D. I. — 113, 127, 169, 337, 338, 362.
Kutuzov, I. I. — 260.
Kültman, R. — 90.
Lander, K. I. — 100, 122, 130.
Lapinskii, P. L. — 227, 348.
Larin, Yu. — 285, 337.
Larkin, D. — 21.
Latis, M. I. — 192.
Lashevich, M. M. — 160.
Laufenberg, G. — 212.
Lebedev, P. P. — 302.
Levi, P. — 304, 305.
Leiteysen, M. G. — 72.
Lezhava, A. M. — 237, 243, 278, 293, 297. 302, 343.
Lepeti (Louis Bertho dit Jules) — 232.
Lepeshinskii, P. N. — 343.
Liberman, S. I. — 243.
Lidia Aleksandrovna — see Fotieva, L. A.
Litvinov, M. M. — 39, 199, 256, 323, 328, 329, 350.
Litkene, E. A. — 292—293, 349.
Lloyd George, D. — 228, 249—250.
Lozovskii, S. A. — 220—221.
Lomov, A. (Oppokov, G. I.) — 143, 147, 194, 333.
Lomonosov, Yu. V. — 209, 270, 328, 339, 367.
Lorman, M. - 311, 317.
Luganovich, E. V. — 68—69.
Lunacharskii, A. V. — 240, 262, 270, 319.
Lyubovich, A. M. — 210.
Lyudmila — see Stal, L. N.
Lyakhotskii, K. — 33.
M. — see Isuv, I. A.
Mg — see Mandelberg, V. E.
Macdonald, J. R. — 223, 225, 227.
Maksimov, K. G. — 335.
Malinovskii, P. P. — 74.
Malkin, B. F. — 293.
Malkov, P. D. — 97.
Maltzahn, G. — 305.
Mandelberg, V. E. — 13.
Manukhin, S. S. — 311.
Manucharyantz, Sh. M. — 238, 266-268.
Mantsev, V. N. — 169.
Markov, S. D. — 114, 120, 178-179, 188, 195.
Martov, L. — 40, 50—51, 289.
Martynov, A. — 11, 54—55.
Martynov, E. N. — 108.
Markhlevskaya, B. — 157.
Markhlevskii, Yu. — 157.
Marshan, R. — 345.
Maurer, T. — 296, 297.
Maffi, F. — 309.
Makharadze, F. I. — 338.
Makhno, N. I. - 274.
Masha — 35.
Medvedeva-Ter-Petrosyan, S. V. — 343.
Meyer, E. - 237-238.
Melnichankii, G. N. — 152.
Mergeheim, A. — 35.
Murphy, D. T. - 220-221.
Mekhonoshm, K. A. — 106, 160.
Meshcheryakova, A. I. — 235.
Milyutin, V. P. — 269.
Milyutin, N. A. — 350.
Minin, S. K. — 106, 154.
Mirbach, V. — 77, 83.
Mitrofanov, A. Kh. — 104.
Mikhailov — 122.
Mikhailov, V. M. — 329, 334.
Mikhailov, P. I. — 127.
Modigliani, V. Z. — 51.
Molotov, V. M. — 286—287, 288, 289, 297, 308, 310, 311,
312-313, 315, 317, 325, 335, 336, 338, 340, 344, 345, 350, 353.
Muklevich, R. A. — 105.
Muralov, N. I. — 73, 277.
Münzenberg, W. — 350, 351.
Myasnikov, G. I. — 260, 336.
N. I. — see Bukharin, N. I.
Nansen, F. — 148.
Nevskii, V. I. — 85, 87, 88, 121, 165—166.
Nikolaev, A. M. — 206, 207, 231, 256, 288, 295, 327.
Novgorodtsev, P. I. — 15.
Novobranov, P. N. — 327.
Novomisskii, Ya. I. —259.
Nogin, V. P. — 97.
Obukh, V. A. — 169.
Ovan, A. — 82.
Odintsov, S. I. — 84.
Okulov, A. I. — 135, 139.
Olga — see Ravich, S. N.
Olminskii, M. S. — 57.
Ordzhonikidze, G. K. — 233, 359-360.
Osadchii, Pavel Sergeevich — 284, 297.
Osadchii, Petr Semenovich — 284, 288, 297.
Osinskii, N. — 286, 325.
Pavel Vasilievich — see Berzin, Ya. A.
Paykes, A. K. — 100.
Palmfeldt, P. — 82.
Pankhurst, S. E. — 234.
Panyushkin, V. L. — 88, 92—93, 96, 260, 336.
Papasha — see Litvinov, M. M.
Petere, Ya. Kh. — 129.
Petersen, G. — 82.
Peterson, R. A. — 353, 354—355.
Petr — see Aleksinskii, G. A.
Petrovskii, G. I. — 82, 101, 124.
Pruev — 285.
Plato — 14.
Platonov, A. P. — 257.
Platten, F. — 65, 99, 132.
Pletnev, D. D. — 310.
Plekhanov, G. V. — 25.
Podbelskii, V. N. — 129—130.
Podvoiskii, N. I. — 68.
Pozern, B. P. — 215—216.
Pokrovskaya — 76.
Pokrovskii, M. N. — 126, 168, 240, 257, 349.
Pole, W. — 248-251, 252.
Ponomarenko, T. M. — 316.
Popov, P. I. — 285, 299-300, 317, 344.
Popov, T. I. - 73, 76.
Postolovsky, D. S. — 351-352.
Pravdin, A. G. — 82, 87—88.
Preobrazhenskaya, N. A.— 257.
Preobrazhensky, A. A.— 246.
Preobrazhensky, E. A.— 203, 264-265, 284, 331, 337.
Prigorovskii, M. V. — 61.
Pfemfert, F. — 237—238.
Pyurianen, P. P. — 98—99.
Pyatakov, G. L. — 36, 138, 336.
Pyatnitskii, I. A. — 260.
R. — see Ermolaev, K. M.
Rabinovich, F. Ya. — 293, 295, 302.
Ravich, S. N. - 33, 53.
Radek, K. B. - 17, 29-30, 33, 36, 39, 40, 54—55, 212, 231, 315,
348.
Radek, R. M. — 64.
Radomyslyskii — see Zinoviev, G. E.
Radus-Zenkovitch, V. A.— 277.
Radchenko, I. I. — 326, 328.
Rakovskii, Kh. G. — 157, 183.
Ramonov — 360.
Ramirez, Jezus — 239.
Raskolnikov, F. F. — 90.
Rattell, N. I. — 183.
Remer, F. — 345.
Rivlina, E. I. — 76.
Robins, R. — 254.
Rozhkov, N. A. — 14.
Roze, I. - 77.
Rozengolts, A. P. — 126, 172, 187, 188.
Rosmer, A. — 220—221.
Rotstein, F. A. — 234, 259, 263, 319.
Rudzutak, Ya. E. — 345.
Rudyi, Yu. V. — 247.
Rusanov, G. A. — 247.
Rukhimovich, M. L. — 108, 336.
Rykov, A. I. — 14, 85, 102, 195, 198, 237, 243, 280.
Ryabushinskii, P. P. — 73.
Ryazanov, D. B. — 324.
Sazonov, A. I. — 168.
Sapronov, T. V. — 154.
Safarov, G. I. — 137, 350, 356.
Sverdlov, V. M. — 98.
Sverdlov, Ya. M. — 64, 69, 88, 108.
Sviderskii, A. I. — 92, 102, 163, 165, 177-178, 180, 189,
210, 216.
Sedov — see Ginzburg, B. A.
Semashko, N. A. — 310, 362, 364.
Serafimovich, A. S. — 239.
Sergeev — 117.
Sergo — see Ordzhonikidze, G. K.
Serebryakov, L. P. — 158, 172, 245, 270.
Sereda, S. P. — 277.
Sklyanskii, E. M. — 109, 122, 125, 126, 128, 129 — 130, 133, 146,
152, 154, 156, 160, 168, 170, 183,
197, 208, 209, 229, 236, 242, 302-303.
Smilga, I. T. — 159, 161.
Smirnov, V. M. — 135.
Smirnov, I. N. — 178, 189, 277.
Smolyaninov, V. A. — 308, 310, 314, 319, 335, 362, 366.
Snouden, F. — 21.
Sokolnikov, G. Ya. — 57, 58, 135, 137, 160, 347, 349, 350, 369.
Solovyev, Z. P. — 272.
Sosnovskii, L. S. — 336.
Spandayan, S. S. — 364.
Spiro, V. B. — 75.
Stalin, I. V. — 78—80, 88, 90, 104, 106, 120, 126, 136, 155,
161, 165, 280, 333, 335, 346, 347, 359, 361.
Stal, L. N. - 39.
Stang, E. — 132.
Stark, L. N. — 64.
Stasova, E. D. — 158, 182.
Steklov, Yu. M. - 144, 349.
Stomonyakov, B. S. — 367.
Storozhev, V. N. — 334.
Stuchka, P. I. — 156.
Sudakov, P. I. — 335.
Sukhopirye — 109.
Syromolotov, F. F. — 181.
Sytin, I. D. — 70.
Sytin, P. P. — 106.
Tagantsev, V. N. — 314.
Talgeimer, A. — 305.
Taneev, V. I. — 355.
Taneev, P. V. — 355.
Targonskaуa-Okrent, E. K. - 128.
Teodorovitch, I. A. — 215—216, 277, 300, 321, 349.
Ter-Gabrielyan, S. M. — 83, 86-87.
Ter-Ioannesyan, V. A. — 364.
Ter-Petrosyan, S. A. — 359.
Termen, L. S. — 358.
Tikhvinskii, M. M. — 311.
Tolstaya, A. I. — see Holmberg-Tolstaya, A. I.
Thomas, D. — 248, 250.
Tomskii, M. P. — 220—221, 245, 284.
Treguboy, I. M. — 156.
Trotsky, L. D. — 25, 33, 35, 66, 79, 83-84, 85, 88, 89, 95,
101, 104, 106, 108, 134, 135, 136,
154, 155, 171, 177, 183, 189, 190,
237, 263, 270, 280, 287, 357-358.
Turati, F. — 200, 230.
Ulyanov, D. I. — 360.
Ulyanova, M. I. — 57.
Unshlikht, I. S. — 291—292, 297, 311, 340, 357, 361—362, 363.
Uritskii, M. S. — 63.
Fitscher, G. M. — 310.
Fomin, V. V. — 265, 270, 296, 346, 349.
Fotieva, L. A. — 82, 86, 92, 102, 174, 203, 211, 217, 218, 253,
256, 296, 303, 310, 314, 347, 350, 356, 361, 365.
Friis, Ya. — 212—213.
Frumkin, M. I. — 146, 147, 324.
Frunze, M. V. — 170, 302.
Haikonen, A. — 82.
Haikonen, Kh. — 82.
Khalatov, A. B. — 194, 210, 283.
Khammer, A. Yu. — 365.
Khatkin, S. — 65.
Holmberg-Tolstaya, A. I. — 175.
Zetkin, K. — 305.
Tsygankov, M. D. — 145.
Tsyurupa, A. D. — 88, 92, 98, 102, 118, 173, 176, 183, 195, 241,
274, 340, 351-352, 358.
Cheiko, I. A. — 347.
Chernov, V. M. — 192.
Churchill, W. — 228, 249—250.
Chicherin, G. V. — 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 81, 83, 84, 85, 90—91,
95, 104, 105, 119, 133, 148, 166,
181, 187, 198, 199, 200, 203, 218,
232, 234, 237, 244, 253, 258, 259,
263, 273, 278, 279, 300, 312, 313,
319, 331—333, 345, 348, 349.
Chubar, V. Ya. - 118.
Chuguring, I. D. — 170.
Chudinov, D. K. — 293.
Chutskayev, S. E. — 181, 199, 211.
Chkheidze, N. S. — 33, 35, 40.
Shablin, N. (Nedelkov, Ivan) — 220-221.
Schwartz, A. A. — 301.
Sheinman, A. L. — 197. 204—205, 328.
Shempolonski — 329.
Shklovsky, G. L. — 31—32, 33.
Schlichte, A. G. - 119, 123.
Shlyapnikov, A. G. — 33, 34, 36, 39, 88, 90, 110, 111.
Schmidt, V. V. — 331.
Shotman, A. V. — 64.
Steinhardt, K. — 232.
Sternberg, P. K. — 159.
Eberleyn, G. - 132.
Eiduk, A. V. - 190, 194.
Eismont, N. B. — 330.
Eichhorn — 79.
Elisman, L. G. — 290—291.
Eltsin, B. M. — 81, 94, 118.
Erdman, K. — 54—55.
Essen, E. A. — 68.
Yurenev, K. K. — 152, 160.
Yurij — see Pyatakov, G. L.
Yuryev — 118.
Yushkin, P. — 164, 165.
Yagello, E. I. — 27.
Yakovleva, V. N. — 113, 117.
Janson — 220-221.
Yanushevskii, P. S. — 286.
Yarilov, A. A. — 296, 297.
Yu. — see Bronstein, P. A.
Waltman — 203.

SUBJECT INDEX

Austria — 222, 226, 232.
Austria-Hungary — 225.
Anarchism and anarchists — 64.
England — 53, 213, 222, 223, 226, 227, 228-229, 230, 248-250, 343.
Entente — 148, 228, 348.
Arzamas — 108, 118.
Arkhangelsk — 194.
Astrakhan — 111.
Geographical atlas — 309.
Basel — 223.
Baku — 83, 95.
Bialystok — 231.
Berlin — 79, 84, 364, 367.
Bern — 29, 30, 31, 32, 52, 53, 56.
V. I. Lenin Library — 322.
Libraries in Soviet Russia — 324.
Bulgaria — 222, 225.
Brest-Litovsk — 66.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918 — 66, 89, 212.
British Socialist Party — 248.
Brussels — 36.
Brussels Conference 1914 — 24-27.
Bugulma — 118.
Bund ("General Jewish Workers' Union in Lithuania, Poland and Russia") — 19, 25, 311, 317.
Bureaucratism and the struggle against it in Soviet Russia — 160, 188, 340, 362.
Vienna - 13, 232.
Hungary — 222, 225.
Foreign policy of the Soviet state — 66, 77, 78—80, 83—84, 85, 90-91, 95, 148, 192, 198,
203, 228-229, 254-255, 258, 331-333, 348.
Foreign trade of Soviet Russia - 65, 193, 196, 197, 204-205, 237, 244, 234, 278, 340, 365.
Prisoners of war in Soviet Russia — 154.
Military conscription in Soviet Russia — 154, 160.
Vologda - 71, 92, 127.
Voronezh — 126, 237.
VSNKh (Supreme Council of the National Economy) — 181, 337—338.
All-Russian Central Executive Committee — 64, 77, 169, 207, 351.
All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions — 245—246.
All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution, Sabotage and Speculation / State Political Directorate — 75, 98-99, 109, 114, 157-158, 167, 168, 169, 172, 191, 198—199, 207—208, 209, 210, 242, 284, 288, 291—292, 297, 301, 311, 357, 361—362, 363.
Higher educational institutions in Soviet Russia — 126.
Genoa Conference 1922 — 344.
Germany — 53, 66, 67, 76, 78—80, 83—84, 95, 212, 213, 222, 223, 225, 226, 229, 230, 233, 364.
Glavarkhiv (Central Administration of Archives of the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment) — 334.
Glazov - 120.
Goznak (State Treasury Note Printing Works) — 71, 73.
Holland — 233.
Famine in Soviet Russia and the struggle against it (1918—1919, 1921—1922) - 98, 131, 132, 302-303, 313, 315, 324, 340, 350, 357-358.
Gosplan (State Planning Commission of the RSFSR) — 288, 352.
State property insurance in Soviet Russia — 314.
State Bank of the RSFSR, People's Bank of the RSFSR — 68, 73.
State control in Soviet Russia — 206.
Gokhran (State Repository of Valuables of the RSFSR) — 318.
GOEELRO (State Commission for the Electrification of Russia) — 199, 271, 295.
Civil Code of the RSFSR — 351-352.
Georgia — 89, 95.
Danilov — 92.
International workers', communist, and national-liberation activists, meetings with them, care for them — 39, 55, 96, 99, 200, 201, 212—213, 237-238, 248-251, 252, 279, 304-305, 309.
Party and state discipline — 68—69, 72, 87, 88, 90, 96, 100, 104, 105, 108, 139, 146, 151, 198, 339, 340, 346, 353, 354-355.
Don — 66.
Donbas — 336.
Yekaterinburg — 82.
Yel'an' — 103.
Care for people — 16, 30, 52—53, 56-57, 62, 65, 68, 69, 72, 75, 76, 81, 82, 84, 100, 101, 102, 105, 107, 109, 110, 118, 122, 128, 142—143, 149, 152, 157, 169, 170, 172, 174, 175, 178, 195, 197, 201, 208, 215—216, 217—218, 220, 233, 238, 239, 246—247, 257, 259, 265, 272, 300, 309, 310, 321, 334, 338, 343, 345, 355, 357-358, 360, 363-364, 366, 370.
Loans (negotiations on loans with foreign governments and capitalist firms) — 328.
Loans in Soviet Russia — internal — 315.
Revolutionary, socialist legality — 96, 98—99, 101, 103, 104, 109, 113, 117, 118, 122, 124, 127, 156, 157-158, 168, 169, 170, 172, 175, 191, 207-208, 242, 284, 288, 291-292, 296, 297, 301, 311, 356.
Legislation in Soviet Russia - 337—338, 351-352.
Requests for literature — 266—268.
Healthcare in Soviet Russia — 126, 175.
Gold — its significance in socialist economy, gold reserves and their expenditure in Soviet Russia — 73, 321—322, 340, 347.
Ivanovo-Voznesensk — 202.
Inventions and inventorship in Soviet Russia — 206, 207, 247, 320, 327, 347.
Imperialism — 222—227, 254.
Imperialist war 1914—1918 — 42—50.
Foreign military intervention and civil war in Soviet Russia - 61-62, 66-67, 69-70, 78—80, 83—84, 85, 86—87, 88, 89, 90-91, 92-93, 95, 97, 99, 104, 106, 110, 118, 119, 120, 125, 134, 135-140, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 155, 159, 160—161, 164, 165, 170-171, 172, 173, 177, 178, 194, 195, 217, 228-229, 234, 236, 253, 254, 273, 274, 353.
Bourgeois and petty-bourgeois intelligentsia in Soviet Russia — 150-151, 213.
Bourgeois and petty-bourgeois intelligentsia in the West — 213.
Interviews — 66—67, 166, 212—213, 228-229, 248-251, 254-255.
International Socialist Commission (I. S. K.) in Bern — 50—51.
Irrigation — 102.
Istpart (Commission for Gathering and Studying Materials on the History of the October Revolution and the History of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks)) — 240.
Italy - 72, 212, 226, 227, 229, 230, 244, 319.
Italian Socialist Party — 200, 219, 309, 319.
Caucasus and the Caucasian republics — 233, 274, 293—295, 296, 359-360, 361.
Party and Soviet cadres — 62, 77, 87-88, 97, 101, 106, 108, 113, 114, 117, 119, 120, 121, 123, 125, 142, 144, 145, 147, 156, 170, 193, 195, 209, 215-216, 220, 235-236, 241, 259, 263, 269, 278, 286-287, 302, 303, 308, 312, 318, 328, 335-336, 338, 367, 368.
Kiev - 66, 157, 200.
Kozlov — 108.
Commission for the Utilization of Material Resources at STO - 303.
Communist Party of Great Britain — 218, 248—251, 343.
Communist Party of Germany — 304—305, 315.
Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), RSDLP, RSDLP(b), RCP(b) - party discipline — 304.
- its connection with the working masses — 289—290.
- criticism and self-criticism in the party — 304.
- foreign organizations and groups — 14.
- local organizations — 11—12, 260, 261, 362.
- Organizational Bureau of the CC RCP(b) — 143, 171, 182, 197, 203, 247, 261, 262, 269, 293, 303, 362, 364.
- plenum of CC RSDLP January 2-23 (January 15 — February 5) 1910 — 14.
- plenums of CC RCP(b) - 155, 156, 159.
- Politburo of the CC RCP(b) - 137, 143, 148, 177, 183, 192, 195, 203, 209, 215, 261, 262, 263, 271, 286, 287, 288, 289, 293—295, 300, 311, 312-313, 320, 321-322, 325, 328, 334, 338, 344, 345, 353, 362, 363.
- CC RSDLP - 24-27, 33, 39.
- CC RCP(b) - 193, 195, 209, 236, 238, 245-246, 271, 280, 284.
— IX All-Russian Conference RCP(b) - 244-245.
— VIII Congress RCP(b) - 135-140.
Communist International (Comintern, III International) — 248.
— I Congress — 132.
— II Congress — 217, 218, 219, 222-227, 230, 231, 232, 234, 239.
— III Congress — 304—305.
— Executive Committee of Comintern — 305, 343, 356.
Constitution of the RSFSR — 94.
Smuggling and the struggle against it — 65, 105.
Counter-revolution and the struggle against it — 62, 69-70, 99, 114, 128, 129, 134, 136, 146, 167, 254, 290, 311, 314, 325.
Concessions in Soviet Russia — 243, 254, 269, 279, 297, 325, 328, 330, 365.
Cooperation in Soviet Russia — 272.
Copenhagen — 52.
Krakow — 13, 23.
Red Army — 106, 110, 111, 112, 120, 125, 135—140, 152, 154, 158, 159, 160-161, 164, 170-171, 173, 178, 183, 189, 217, 274, 287, 290-291, 302-303.
Krasnodar — 296.
Peasantry in Soviet Russia — 137, 150-151, 277.
Criticism and self-criticism — 304.
Crimea - 290-291, 300, 360.
Latvia — 198.
Latvian riflemen — 76.
"Left" opportunism and "left" opportunists in communist parties, struggle against them — 212, 218.
Legal and illegal forms of struggle — 18, 212.
Lenin, V. I. — autobiographical data — 31—32, 33, 54, 56, 58, 62, 67, 82, 86, 91, 108, 125, 142-143, 145, 149, 152, 168, 169, 196, 199, 203, 215, 217, 218, 233, 235, 237—238, 244, 254, 256, 280, 281-283, 284, 303, 309, 310, 314, 356, 357—358, 359, 361—362, 363-364.
Livonia — 95.
Lucerne — 31.
Small Council of People's Commissars, MCNK — 159, 191, 240, 268, 312-313, 339.
Manifesto of the CC RSDLP "War and Russian Social Democracy" November 1, 1914 — 29—30.
Marxism — its creative character — 249.
The masses and their role in state governance — 289—290.
International solidarity of working people — 350.
International Socialist Bureau (ISB) of the II International - 17, 22, 24.
International Trade Union Congress — 220—221.
Mezhrabpom (International Workers' Relief) — 350.
Mexico — 204—205.
Menshevism and Mensheviks — 11—12, 14, 19, 24-27, 33, 35, 39-40, 67, 162, 212, 289, 290, 304, 311, 317.
Milan — 30.
Youth in Soviet Russia — 302.
Moscow — 12, 56, 57, 58, 79, 81, 96, 105, 157, 209, 215, 235, 259, 272, 310, 346.
Moscow province — 150—151.
Muzga — 106.
Murmansk — 95.
Munich — 52, 53.
Public education in Soviet Russia - 80, 94, 133, 292-293.
People's Commissariats of the RSFSR — 271.
— People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade (NKVT) — 236, 237, 293—295, 297, 302, 319, 337, 339.
— People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs (NKVD) — 87-88, 93, 215, 252.
— People's Commissariat for Military Affairs (Narkomvoyen) — 101, 109, 111, 126, 129-130, 136, 164, 171, 183.
— People's Commissariat of State Control — 130.
— People's Commissariat of Agriculture (Narkomzem) — 277, 286, 321.
— People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs (NKID, Narkomindel) — 65, 85, 153, 166, 181, 187, 196, 198, 199, 200, 259, 263, 278, 297, 300, 309, 312, 313, 323.
— People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraphs (Narkompochtель) — 64, 129—130, 164, 206, 210, 288, 295, 361.
— People's Commissariat of Food Supply (Narkomprod) — 98, 103, 123, 146, 153, 163, 164, 165-166, 173, 176, 177-178, 180, 183, 324.
— People's Commissariat of Enlightenment (Narkompros) — 126, 172, 208, 262, 270, 281, 292—293.
— People's Commissariat of Transportation (NKPS) — 88, 164, 176, 178-179, 187-188, 190—191, 195, 270, 346, 367.
— People's Commissariat of Workers' and Peasants' Inspection (NKRKI) - 232.
— People's Commissariat of Social Security (Narkombez) — 246—247, 350.
— People's Commissariat of Labor (Narkomtrud) — 245—246.
— People's Commissariat of Finance (Narkomfin) — 68, 77, 100, 181.
— People's Commissariat of Justice (NKYu) — 156, 169, 182, 362.
Science and technology in Soviet Russia — 206, 207, 247, 320, 327, 347, 357—358.
Nationalization of industry, banks and transport in Soviet Russia — 66.
National policy of the Communist Party and Soviet state — 190—234, 293—295.
National and national-colonial question, national-liberation movements and wars — 40.
Naples — 212.
Nezhyn — 78, 79.
Nizhny Novgorod — 12, 70.
New Economic Policy (NEP) — 316.
Novorossiysk — 88, 90.
Novosil — 93.
Norway — 53, 212—213, 233.
Odessa — 12.
Opportunism — 21, 212, 218.
Orenburg — 66.
Responses to letters, appeals from workers and reports from the field — 109, 111, 117, 122, 124, 125, 127, 128, 131, 132, 133, 142—143, 145, 152, 281, 296, 309, 310, 314.
Pavlovsk — 316.
Paris — 16, 35, 38.
Parliamentarism and parliamentary elections in capitalist countries — 212, 249—250, 343.
Pacifism and pacifists — 42, 54.
Penza — 71.
Transfer of the government from Petrograd to Moscow — 74.
Resettlement policy in Soviet Russia — 277.
Persia (Iran) — 229, 319.
St. Petersburg, Petrograd (Peter) — 11, 12, 38, 71, 74, 81, 105, 113, 117, 120, 125, 165, 207, 215, 217, 263, 271, 297.
Bolshevik press (before the October Socialist Revolution), reviews of books, pamphlets, articles — 11—12, 13, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 54, 57, 58.
Press and publishing houses in Russia, reviews of books, pamphlets, articles — 15.
Menshevism press and publishing houses — 11-12, 14, 19, 32, 33, 35, 39, 40, 55.
Press and publishing houses in Soviet Russia, reviews of books, pamphlets, articles — 70, 104, 119, 153, 190, 262, 264-265, 271, 334, 345, 366, 368.
Communist press — 218, 219, 244, 251, 259, 326.
Social-democratic press in Western Europe and America — 17, 29-30, 40, 203.
Plans and outlines of pamphlets, articles, reports and speeches — 18—19, 24-27, 222—227, 230.
Political and educational work in Soviet Russia — 97, 112.
Polish Socialist Party (PPS)-"left wing" — 13.
Poland — 229, 231, 323.
Assistance of foreign workers in restoring the national economy in Soviet Russia and in fighting famine — 350.
Embassies of foreign states in Soviet Russia — 71, 77, 105.
Food supply and provisioning — 66—67, 71, 81, 87-88, 92, 98, 102, 117, 121, 122, 123, 126, 131, 132, 145, 146, 153, 163, 164, 165-166, 173, 174, 176, 177-178, 180, 183, 189—190, 194, 199, 202, 210, 216, 231, 240, 241, 242, 263, 265-266, 273, 274, 285, 298, 313.
Food tax — 300, 335.
Prodrazverska (food requisition system) — 177—178.
Food detachments in 1918 — 92.
V. I. Lenin's works, their writing and publication — 108, 199, 203, 215, 259, 326.
Labor productivity in Soviet Russia — 189—190.
Industry in Soviet Russia — 144, 176, 181, 189—190, 280.
Trade unions in Soviet Russia — 72, 245-246, 272.
"Workers' Opposition" — anti-party group 1920—1922 — 260, 329, 336.
British Labour Party (Labourites) — 213, 248—250, 343.
British Socialist Workers' Federation — 218.
Russian and revolutionary movement — 11—12, 18—19.
Working class in Soviet Russia — 150—151.
Working class and workers' movement in England — 21.
Radio and radio technology — 64, 153, 181, 206, 207, 231, 320, 327.
Revolutionary War Council of the Republic and Supreme Command, strategic plans of the Red Army — 108, 136, 159, 160, 161, 183, 274, 320.
Revolutionary movement in Western Europe:
— in France — 35, 258.
Revolutionary romanticism — 212-213.
Bourgeois-democratic revolution 1905—1907 in Russia — 11-12.
World revolution — 213.
Requisitions and confiscations in Soviet Russia — 73.
Reform — 48.
Reformism — 27, 42—50.
Riga — 65.
Rome — 200.
Russia - 222, 223, 225, 226.
Rostov-on-Don — 79, 192, 247.
Romania — 67.
Sabotage and the struggle against it in Soviet Russia — 66.
Samara — 202, 237.
Saratov — 95, 97, 161.
Svetlyj Yar — 106.
Agriculture in Soviet Russia — 145, 150-151.
Serdovsk — 161.
Siberia — 66—67, 140, 178—179.
Simbirsk — 121, 152.
Syndicalism and syndicalists — 21.
Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR (SNK, Sovnarkom) — 85, 86, 100, 103, 109, 112, 188, 195, 198, 206, 234, 236, 243, 268, 269, 272, 312, 328, 337-338, 339, 355, 361.
Council of Workers' and Peasants' Defense (Council of Defense) — 136, 147, 161, 168.
Council of Labor and Defense (STO) — 206, 211, 265, 286, 290—291, 293—295, 302, 308, 319, 320, 328, 335, 368.
Soviet Russia, its international significance — 229.
Soviet Russia and the capitalist world — 228—229, 254—255, 348.
Soviet construction — 102, 245—246, 337—338.
Local soviets (after the October Socialist Revolution) — 89, 170, 175, 320.
Soviets as a new — higher type of democracy — 250.
Conference of the CC RSDLP with party workers ("February" conference) in Krakow — December (8—14 January 1913) — 18—19.
United States of America (USA) - 222, 225, 226, 227, 254-255.
Socialist construction in Soviet Russia — 299—300, 320.
Bourgeois specialists in the transition period from capitalism to socialism — 138—139, 353.
Social-Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania (SDKPiL) — 23, 36.
Socialist-Revolutionaries (SRs) - 67, 75, 114, 143, 167, 192, 290.
Alliance of proletariat and peasantry in Soviet Russia — 150—151.
Speculation and the struggle against it in Soviet Russia — 105.
Foreign specialists and their participation in economic construction in Soviet Russia — 237.
Statistics in Soviet Russia — 285, 299-300, 344.
Stockholm — 259.
Congresses of Soviets:
— Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets — 67.
— Sixth All-Russian Congress of Soviets — 107.
Local Congresses of Soviets:
— Fifth Extraordinary Congress of the Moscow District Soviet of Workers' and Peasants' Deputies — 150—151.
— Povenets District Congress of Soviets — 89.
Tactics of communist parties in capitalist countries - 212—213, 248-251, 343.
Tambov — 122, 238.
Tammerfors — 67.
Tariffs in Soviet Russia — 245-246.
Tiflis — 360.
Commodity exchange (commodity circulation) in Soviet Russia — 316.
Fuel and fuel industry in Soviet Russia — 144, 181—182, 188.
Commerce in Soviet Russia (internal) — 353.
Tornio — 65.
Transport in Soviet Russia — 290-291.
— automobile — 86—87, 147.
— railway — 143—144, 178—179, 187—188, 189, 296, 346.
Trusts in Soviet Russia — 353.
Trotsky and Trotskyism, struggle against it — 35, 39—40.
Labor discipline — 72.
Labor service — 72, 143—144.
Labor armies in Soviet Russia — 234.
Tula - 96, 98, 109.
Turkestan — 102, 346.
Turkey — 324.
Ukraine - 68, 78-79, 89, 112, 119, 123, 138, 183, 211, 238, 241, 317.
Ukrainian Central Rada — 78-79.
Uleaborg — 67.
Urals — 361, 363.
Ufa - 81, 118, 174.
Teachers in Soviet Russia — 292-293.
Finance and financial policy of the Soviet state — 76, 77, 82, 163, 181, 189, 211, 328, 331, 369.
Finland — 65, 67.
Finnish revolution 1918 and Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic — 67.
Military fleet in Soviet Russia — 88, 90, 183.
Factions and factionalism in the party — 24—27, 39-40.
France — 53, 223, 226, 227, 228—229, 233.
French Socialist Party — 258.
Kharkov — 61, 62, 144, 152, 347.
Tsaritsyn — 88, 106, 136, 139, 154.
Central Statistical Bureau of the Ukrainian SSR — 317, 322.
Central Statistical Administration (TsSU) - 191, 211, 285, 299-300, 317, 322, 344.
Tsentralnaya Pechat — 292—293.
Tsentrosoyuz (Central Union of Consumer Societies) — 337.
Prices in Soviet Russia — 163.
Zimmerwald Left — 35, 39—40.
— I (Zimmerwald) Conference 1915 — 33.
— II (Kienthal) Conference 1916 - 41-51.
Zurich — 52, 53, 56, 235.
Chelyabinsk — 125.
Party purge — 329, 336.
Switzerland — 53, 75, 76, 144.
Sweden — 328—329.
Stuttgart — 223.
Economic policy of the Communist Party and Soviet state in the first months of Soviet power — 150—151.
Revolutionary emigration — 363.
Estonia — 69—70, 95, 192.
South Africa — 203.
Japan — 222, 226, 227, 254.
Yaroslavl — 92.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword

1905—May 1917

Letter to the Moscow Committee of the RSDLP. January 31, 1905

Letter to G. A. Aleksinskii. February 7, 1908

Notes for memory. Beginning of 1911

Remarks on the article by V. V. Adoratskii "On Neoliberalism. Apropos of P. Novgorodtsev's book 'The Crisis of Modern Legal Consciousness'". 1911, no later than April

Note to an unidentified addressee. January 16, 1912

Letter to Ya. S. Ganetskii. September 4, 1912

Materials for the Krakow Conference of the Central Committee of the RSDLP with party workers. January 1913, between the 8th and 14th

Remarks and additions to the "Note" by I. F. Armand. 1913, no earlier than August

Note to an unidentified addressee. Between December 14 and 26, 1913

Draft resolution for the Committee of Foreign Organization and foreign groups

Letter to the Regional Board of SDKPiL. April 29, 1914

Materials for the report of the CC RSDLP at the Brussels Conference. Between June 6 and 13, 1914

1. Variant beginning of the report
— 

3. Variant of the concluding part of the report ("Conditions")

4. Plan and theses of the CC RSDLP report

Letter to K. B. Radek. November, no earlier than 13, 1914

Letter to V. L. Bogrova. December 28, 1914

Recommendation to B. D. Vigileev. March 14, 1915

Letter to G. L. Shklovsky. June 1915

Note to G. E. Zinoviev. July 1915, before the 26th

Letter to G. E. Zinoviev. Between August 30 and September 5, 1915

Letter to G. E. Zinoviev. 1916, before February 18

Letter to I. F. Armand. Early February 1916

Letter to A. G. Shlyapnikov and note on the letter by N. K. Krupskaya. March 11, 1916

Letter to I. F. Armand. March 19, 1916

Letter to G. E. Zinoviev. End of March 1916

Second International Socialist Conference in Kienthal. Between April 24 and 30, 1916

1. Exchange of notes with Pierre Brizon
—

2. Remarks on the draft theses "Attitude of the Proletariat to the Question of Peace"

3. Sketches of a speech at the meeting of the commission on the question of the International Socialist Bureau

Letter to I. F. Armand. June 30, 1916

Letter to I. F. Armand. July 2, 1916

Note to I. F. Armand. February 2, 1917

Letter to K. B. Radek. March 13, 1917

Inventory of personal belongings. April 6, 1917

Letter to I. F. Armand. April 20, 1917

Letter to I. F. Armand. Before May 12 (25), 1917

Letter to I. F. Armand. May, after May 12 (25), 1917

1917 (December) —1918

Order for the dispatch of guards to the Tauride Palace. December 9 (22), 1917

Reply by direct wire to N. V. Krylenko. December 11 (24), 1917

Letter to Ya. A. Berzin. December 1917, before the 24th (January 6, 1918)

Exchange of notes with V. D. Bonch-Bruyevich. January 3 (16), 1918

Exchange of notes with M. S. Uritskii. January 5 (18), 1918

Note to V. D. Bonch-Bruyevich. 1918, January, no earlier than the 7th (20th)

Note to V. D. Bonch-Bruyevich. January 8 (21), 1918

Order to L. N. Stark. January 8 (21), 1918

Exchange of notes with F. E. Dzerzhinsky. January 9 (22), 1918

Note to the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs. January 16 (29), 1918

Interview with a correspondent of the Swedish newspaper "Folkets Dagblad Politiken" January 20 (February 2), 1918

Note to the People's Commissariat of Finance. January 24 (February 6), 1918

Telegram to the People's Secretary of Ukraine E. V. Luganovich. February 14, 1918

Note to Ya. M. Sverdlov. February 20, 1918

Note by direct wire to Reval to Ya. Ya. Achweldt. February 22, 1918

Telegram to the Presidium of the Council of People's Commissars, to the Union of Printers, to Sytin. February 25, 1918

Order to the Vologda Council. February 26, 1918

Telegram to the Penza Council of People's Commissars, its departments and commissars. March 6, 1918

Note to G. V. Chicherin. March 21, 1918

Speech at the session of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the National Economy on the question of labor service. March 27, 1918

Order to N. I. Muralov. March 31, 1918

Letter to T. I. Popov. April 1, 1918

Note to G. V. Chicherin. April 1, 1918

Note to P. P. Malinovskii. April 1, 1918

Note to F. E. Dzerzhinsky. April 6, 1918

Note to G. V. Chicherin. April 10, 1918

Note to T. I. Popov. April 10, 1918

Note to G. V. Chicherin. April 10, 1918